10 August 2010
A £3million project to replace overhead electricity lines with underground cables across part of Essex is due to be completed this month.
EDF Energy Networks started work in May to complete the remaining dismantlement of 9km of overhead lines between Thundersley and South Benfleet, near Basildon.
Previously work had been carried out to lay the underground cables along the route and remove overhead lines from land near the Sadler’s Farm Roundabout, to provide a clear route for major road improvements by Essex County Council.
The project has been designed to help to ensure reliable electricity supplies to customers in the area in future.
EDF Energy Networks project manager Chris Sugars said: “We wanted to upgrade the existing overhead line and took the decision to achieve this by replacing it with underground cables.
“Underground cables are usually less susceptible to damage than overhead lines - which can sometimes be affected by high winds and storms leading to power interruptions for customers.”
EDF Energy Networks is the largest electricity distribution network owner in the UK, covering the East of England, the South East and London, and serving over a quarter of the UK's population. The company is investing £459million this year in improvement projects on the three electricity distribution networks it operates.
ENDS
For further information, contact Jessica Gallagher in the EDF Energy press office on 01473 266484.
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around a fifth of the nation’s electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK’s nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental and social programme of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.