SSEN Completes Dorchester's £2.5m Network Upgrade

A new multi-million pound programme of works to boost the resilience of the electricity infrastructure in a busy Dorset town has been completed by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

The distribution operator began the £2.5 million upgrade to Dorchester's network in May 2020, delivering the scheme despite substantial challenges arising from the town's historic layout and Victorian utility systems buried underground.

The works, which included the replacement and installation of new transformers and switchboard, have boosted the resilience and strength of the power supply for over 12,000 customers supplied by the Dorchester Primary Substation. The works also ensure the future-proofing of the network to accommodate the needs of those living and working in the historic market town, as they adopt low carbon technologies to meet their net zero goals.


Additionally, the layout of the substation located in the Lower Trinity Street car park has been reconfigured to work more efficiently in housing the upgraded equipment supplying local homes and businesses.

SSEN's Project Manager for the Dorchester project, Tim Eccleston said: "My team and I are delighted to have completed this significant network upgrade in Dorchester and I'd like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding while we carried out these works.

"Our priority since the start of this project has been to minimise any inconvenience to those living and working in the vicinity of our works, and to ensure that we maintained the integrity of the town's history."

Part of an ongoing investment by SSEN in Dorchester's network, the site was visited last year by MP Chris Loder, who welcomed SSEN's investment in the network and support for a secure and fair transition to net zero for his constituents.

Tim continued: "While these £2.5 million upgrade works are now completed, SSEN will continue to work to improve Dorchester's electricity infrastructure for its local customers and will embark on a further multi-million pound cable upgrade for the town in the late spring of next year."

SSEN's programme of works in Dorchester ensures a power supply that suits the needs of residents and businesses now and in to the future, by upgrading critical areas of Dorset's electricity network; helping local communities achieve their decarbonisation ambitions, so as more customers turn to low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles, they have a supply and infrastructure that's fit for purpose.