SSEN battling to restore power to 11,4000 customers – with Highland homes and businesses braced for a wait until Thursday – as Kate Forbes MSP demands answers

More than 11,000 homes and businesses remain without power across the north, according to energy giant SSEN.

The area’s distribution network operator is blaming the unusually powerful” and “severe, sustained” nature of Monday’s Storm Floris for the difficulty and delay in reconnecting customers.

Some communities in Inverness-shire and Ross-shire have been told it could be as late as Thursday evening before the lights are back on.

The disclosures come after Highland MSP Kate Forbes pressed SSEN for answers on when they would have communities reconnected in what she called “the busiest week of the year for many businesses” in the region.

By 5.30 pm this evening (Tuesday), power had been restored to more than 60,000 customers, but with 11,4000 still waiting.

An 800-strong team is leading SSEN’s response to Monday’s storms, including over 500 of SSEN’s own engineers and field staff, some from the south of England network region.

They are being supported by almost 200 people from contract partners and other network operators.

The energy firm also has nearly 100 call handlers and social media staff – four times usual staffing levels – on duty in the customer contact centre to answer queries.

SSEN says more than 13,000 calls have been taken since the storm began with, on average, calls answered in around 90 seconds.

On top of those, dozens of extra staff are co-ordinating and delivering a comprehensive welfare operation, arranging for hot meals to be provided for those without power and overseeing house calls in communities awaiting reconnection.

Ms Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: “I am aware that many people still do not have power after Storm Floris.

“I too have had no power since yesterday morning (and no likelihood of it returning today) which has affected my ability to write this post.

“I have asked SSEN how they intend to accelerate reconnections as this is the busiest week of the year for many businesses.

“I appreciate it is very difficult right now, especially if you have customers or for vulnerable residents.

“If my office can help please get in touch, and we will post updates from SSEN as soon as we can.”

SSEN’s Director of Customer Operations for the north of Scotland, Andy Smith, said:

“Storm Floris has been unusually powerful, especially for a storm at this time of year. It’s brought down many trees that have endured several previous storms, and it’s caused some network damage.

“Today, we’ve been able to inspect the network from the air and from the ground, and we now have a complete picture of the extent of the damage.

“There’s a considerable ongoing task to restore all customers’ supplies, but we have an 800-strong team whose priority is to make repairs as safely and quickly as they can, keep customers updated, and support those awaiting reconnection.

“I’d like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience while we go about this massive task; we’re doing our best to give people realistic, informed estimates of when we’ll get their power back on.

“I’m also grateful to the teams from our contract partners and other network operators for supporting our effort.”

An SSEN spokesman said: “Today’s relatively calm weather has allowed SSEN’s field team to conduct a full assessment of the network, and the damage that’s been done by the storm. “This has been carried out by walking hundreds of kilometres of network at ground level, and also with the aid of two helicopters which have been conducting extensive inspections from above.

“The damage to the network has been considerable.

“SSEN invests around £100m every year in the north of Scotland to renew and reinforce the network, but sustained winds like those witnessed on Monday have had an impact.

“At the height of summer, trees are in full leaf, making them heavier, and more susceptible to blowing over in storm-force gusts.”

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