Almost 1,500 households affected as SSEN carries out urgent repairs

POWER company SSEN Distribution has released some background information on Sunday morning’s power cut which affected almost 1,500 customers in Sandwick and Dunrossness.

Some residents received a short electronic message from SSEN the day before alerting them that the power would be off from 6.30am the following morning.

In the message “Holly from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks” said the power cut was being undertaken “so we can safely fix our network”.

This morning (Monday), SSEN clarified that the disruption had become necessary to repair damage to the overhead network in the “Sandwick and Sumburgh” areas reported on Friday.

The company did not explain what the damage entailed or what caused it but described it as an “essential interruption to supplies”.

A spokesperson for the company added: “The essential works affected 1,486 customers in the Sandwick and Sumburgh areas.”

The first customers were off supply at 6.58am and electricity was restored to everyone 11.09am.

“All customers who are registered for SSEN’s priority services were contacted ahead of the work taking place,” the spokesperson added.