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Southern Energy Power Distribution (SEPD) has completed a £145 million strengthening of its network in the central southern region by installing “smart fuse” technology.
The network has been upgraded with smart fuse technology which detect faults often caused by airborne debris flying into overhead lines and automatically switches power back on if it’s safe to do so, reducing the number of power cuts over the winter.
The technology cuts out the need for an engineer to visit the fault and allows power to potentially be restored within minutes.
SEPD, part of Scottish and Southern Power Energy Distribution (SSEPD), has also made investment into substations, stronger overhead wires, more robust underground cables and hi-automated equipment to switch electricity supplies from another source if power is cut.
The company has also invested nearly £20 million in cutting back trees and branches that could interfere with lines, including the biggest ever one-day tree cutting programme at a cost of £350,000 in rural West Sussex.
SEPD director of distribution Stuart Hogarth, said: “This new investment work in the area will mean our network is even more robust. If there is a power cut, supplies in these areas will be restored more quickly as a result of this investment.”
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