10 August 2010
A £4million scheme to reinforce electricity supplies to thousands of customers between Brimsdown and South Mimms in North London, is underway today.
EDF Energy Networks is refurbishing 17km of overhead lines during the next couple of months, as well as re-painting all the pylons which support the lines and installing new associated equipment. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
The overhead lines run through areas which include Dyrham Park, Crews Hill and Enfield and to the south of Potters Bar.
Project manager Chris Ling said: “It is our priority to make sure that we provide a reliable electricity supply for our customers and this means regularly investing in our networks.
“This refurbishment programme will maintain the equipment’s structural integrity and therefore ensure the reliability of supplies for the future.
“This year alone we are spending £459 million improving our networks, for customers across our distribution areas in the East, South East and London.”
As the overhead lines cross a number of major roads including the A1, M25 and A10, plus several rail lines and residential areas, the EDF Energy Networks team has planned carefully to ensure there is as little disruption as possible during the improvement programme which is being carried out by its contractors, Babcocks.
Roads need to be protected where work is being carried out and where possible a system called Skysafe will be used.
Skysafe is an alternative method to using netted scaffold to carry out work across roads. It is a suspended wire system which is held between pylons, ensuring that engineers can work in safety without causing disruption to motorists
Where Skysafe cannot be used, the netted scaffold will be set up but the work will be carried out during the night to minimise any disruption.
EDF Energy Networks is the largest electricity distribution network owner in the UK, covering the East of England, London and the South East, and serving over a quarter of the UK's population. It distributes power to 7.8million homes and businesses and connects new residential and business properties to the power networks.
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.