Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has appointed three contractors to carry out capital delivery works worth more than £1 billion.
Keltbray, OCU Services and The Clancy Group will each carry out upgrade works in three allocated areas within SSEN’s central southern England distribution area.
The work includes significant network upgrades to electricity infrastructure, which will support SSEN’s RIIO-ED2 commitments.
This is the first time that SSEN Distribution has awarded an agreement of this size and represents approximately one quarter of its overall investment during its RIIO-ED2 business plan.
SSEN said this new arrangement will allow the company to plan work in a “more effective and efficient way”, completing upgrades, connections and asset replacement at the same time, and “ultimately reducing the impact on customers by working on the network as efficiently as possible”.
Andy Huthwaite, SSEN Distribution’s director of large capital delivery, said: “The signing of these agreements after a fair and competitive tendering process has been the culmination of a huge amount of work and is a significant step in the delivery of our Capital Investment programme, which will see increased resilience and flexibility in our network that will benefit our 3.1 million customers in the south of England.
“This partnership working will enable SSEN to better manage and reduce supply chain risks and secure the specialist skills of contract partners in an ever more competitive market.
“The drive to net-zero is moving at pace and SSEN Distribution is playing a vital role in building a network that is fit for the future, creating capacity for new connections and helping our customers to meet their own net-zero goals through the low carbon technologies available to them.”
In addition to delivery, the newly appointed contractors will work closely with SSEN Distribution throughout the design and consenting phase of projects.
Vince Bowler, managing director of OCU Services, added: “This programme of work is a significant step in OCU’s ambition to have a positive impact on the UK energy network and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
“It will also provide major opportunities for the business to expand its services within the sector. We look forward to working with SSEN to deliver this significant programme of work.”