SSEN warns even more properties across Moray, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands could lose power as Storm Floris continues

Power has been restored to over 5500 customers across Moray, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands but continuing severe winds brought by Storm Floris could affect even more properties later today.

SSEN, the distribution network operator for the north of Scotland, says work is ongoing to reconnect a further 22,500 properties.

The firm says a “particular impact” is being seen in Moray, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands and that due to the severity of the weather, it may not be possible to reconnect all customers who have lost power by the end of today.

SSEN drafted additional teams to “further bolster” its response prior to the storm arriving.

Hundreds of extra people have been mobilised, including multiple teams from SSEN’s southern England network region.

A deep area of low pressure is slowly moving across much of Scotland with Argyll, the Highlands, the Western Isles, Perthshire, Angus, Moray and Aberdeenshire experiencing the strongest winds.

Gusts in exposed areas of up to 100mph are possible.

Aberdeenshire and the Moray coast are likely to experience sustained storm-force winds for the rest of tonight and into the early hours of Tuesday.

A Met Office Amber Weather Warning for wind remains in place until 11pm today for most of Scotland, and a lesser Yellow Wind Warning for the whole of the country is currently in place until the end of tonight.

SSEN says that customers who will be without power for more than 12 hours are entitled to £30 per person for every day without power, to cover the cost of food and drink.

People should keep hold of their receipts and claim costs back at www.ssen.co.uk/stormclaim, according to the firm.

In addition, customers on SSEN’s Priority Service Register can claim reasonable costs for alternative accommodation if they’re without power for over 24 hours.

Andy Smith, SSEN’s director of customer operations for the north of Scotland, said: “Storm Floris is the strongest summer storm we’ve seen in a very long time, and it’s causing significant disruption to power supplies today.

“At the height of summer, we’ve mounted an operation that’s comparable in size to the ones we mobilise when a storm hits during the depths of winter, but the sustained nature of these damaging winds means some affected customers may be without power overnight.

“I’d like to thank customers for their patience today, and I want to reassure our customers that we’ve got hundreds of additional team members working to get people reconnected.

“As soon as it’s been safe to do so, they’ve quickly set about repairing network damage.

“Remember - you can report faults to us by calling 105 at any time, or via the Power Track website or app. And please – if you come across any network damage, stay well back and inform us immediately.”

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