Work on improving Dorset's electricity infrastructure is continuing with a new £2.2 million project. 

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution is continuing its investment with a nine month project underway in Dorchester.

The Dorchester Town Green Recovery project will include the installation of a new 33kV cable route from SSEN’s substation near Trinity Street, along West Walk, Princess Street and the Grove, where it will join the existing SSEN network near Northernhay.

It will provide a more efficient, robust and flexible network for over 21,000 homes and businesses in the immediate area through an additional capacity of 7.2MW; enabling an increased uptake of low-carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar panels.

SSEN’s project manager for the Dorchester Town upgrade, Galina Katrandzhieva, said: “My team and I are delighted to be working on this project, which will enhance the resilience and flexibility of power supplies for those living and working in Dorchester.

“These works are part of a series of upgrades for the wider Dorset area, some of which have already been completed and - all of which - are building and developing the power supplies our customers require now and in the years to come.”

She continued: “I’d like to thank local customers, in advance, for their patience while we carry out these works to improve their power supplies and build in the capacity to their network that will enable them to adapt to low- carbon technologies and help them meet their Net Zero ambitions.

“These works have been carefully planned to minimise disruption to those living and working in the vicinity of the upgrade and we’d like to assure customers that no Planned Supply Interruptions are scheduled to take place during the project.”

The multi million pound project is part of ongoing plans to deliver key low-carbon deployment, and is a result of close collaboration with the energy regulator, Ofgem, and other electricity network operators.

This is after they set out to explore how early investment in the distribution network to drive green economic growth, create skilled jobs, and support the deployment of low-carbon projects.

The project is part of an overall £41m Green Recovery investment to deliver increased network capacity of over 122MW, which will enable SSEN to upgrade its north and south networks to accommodate increased demand for electric vehicle charging and electrification of heat.

The Dorchester programme of works is scheduled to be completed by November 2024.