Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has signed deals worth more than £1 billion with three Tier 1 contractors for upgrades to electricity infrastructure in central southern England.
Keltbray, OCU and Clancy Group have been appointed as SSEN’s delivery partners for a range of network upgrades across Berkshire and West London, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
It is the first time SSEN Distribution has awarded an agreement of this size, representing approximately one-quarter of its overall investment during its RIIO-ED2 business plan.
The contractors will work closely with SSEN Distribution throughout the design and consenting phase, to ensure an innovative and collaborative approach.
The deal will allow SSEN to complete upgrades, connections and asset replacement at the same time – and drive delivery of its Net Zero Acceleration Programme Plus (NZAP+) targets.
“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,” said Andy Huthwaite, SSEN Distribution’s director of large capital delivery.
“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.”
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