A huge operation is underway to restore connections to tens of thousands of Scots left without power after Storm Eowyn. Scottish Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have said that at 11.30am on Saturday, January 25, almost 70,000 people have already been reconnected, and work is progressing to restore supplies to around 20,000 more.
Scottish Power also confirmed last night they were working to restore power to 57,000 homes. SSEN say the main areas affected are large parts of Argyll and the Kintyre peninsula, southern Perthshire and the Trossachs, along with smaller pockets of customers in other areas across the north of Scotland.
The energy provider states that there are some complex faults to be addressed, particularly in the most affected locations, and this is expected to affect restoration times. A broad welfare operation is now supporting SSEN customers in communities where the reconnection operation is underway.
A number of vans serving free hot food and drink have been open since breakfast time; these vans are being deployed to communities awaiting reconnection and will be relocated to other areas once power is restored.
SSEN Distribution’s Director of Customer Operations for the north of Scotland, Andy Smith, said: “Éowyn was an exceptional storm, and our massive operation continues today to respond to the huge amount of damage it’s caused to the electricity network.
“We’re also doing a lot to look after our customers in affected communities while we fix the faults that have impacted their supplies.
“The repairs that need to be done are very considerable in the area that was covered by the Met Office Red Alert. The wind speeds have now finally dropped, allowing us to move further forward with this task through the night and since first light.
“The vastly increased teams we’ve deployed will get many more homes back on supply today, but in some cases, including in more remote areas, it will take a few days to fix all faults.
“Where work is already underway, we’ll inform people as soon as we can with a realistic estimate of when their lights are likely to go back on. I’d like to thank the customers we’re asking to wait a little longer for reconnection for their patience and understanding. And I’d encourage them and others awaiting reconnection to take up the extensive welfare provision we’ve put in place.”
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