FAQs
Why has this route been chosen?
The route chosen is the most direct and therefore the most economical route. As a Statutory Undertaker, SSEN has the right to install/maintain their plant and equipment within the Public Highway under the Highways Act of 1980. There are no rights to install/maintain plant and equipment within private property without the consent of the landowners.
What is underground cable laying?
In areas where space for cables is limited, especially in urban areas, underground laying of cables is an efficient way of maintaining the energy needs of a community. Electricity is transmitted from one point to another, using cables laid in an underground system, instead of the cables hanging from poles and towers. Underground cables are not visible to the naked eye.
How do you lay underground cables?
The method is called trenching and involves a trench digging in the public highway and laying new pipework (ducts) that will accommodate the cables. The trenches will be dug in stages by our contractor, with the traffic management measures in place moving sequentially with our working area.
Once the ducting is in place, we return to open trenches at intervals along the route to pull cable through the ducts and connect them in what is called a joint bay. Once completed, we thoroughly test everything and then is it ready to be energised.
