A programme of works by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to install technology that helps ‘self-restore’ electricity supplies has reached a major milestone.

The automated system, which will safely enable customers’ power supplies to be restored within minutes in the event of a power cut – generally in less than three minutes – has now been installed at over 65% of their earmarked network sites.

The Automated Power Restoration System (APRS) enables the electricity network powering homes and businesses to ‘self-restore’. SSEN describes the system as self-adapting, detecting when, and where, there is a fault on the network.

Then – if safe to do so – the system either chooses the most suitable alternative cable circuit to switch supplies to or sends a signal to the main control room where engineers can restore power.

All of this is done in minutes, so that customers are unaware of the temporary interruption to their power supply.

While dramatically reducing the duration of unplanned power cuts, automation also means SSEN’s engineers can investigate the actual fault faster and resolve any network issues while power is still being supplied via alternative circuits.

APRS also reduces the need for engineers to physically switch power back on at source, cutting unnecessary travel and allowing engineers and resources to be redirected to other areas of network maintenance.

The DSO committed to investing over ￡3.12 million ($3.72 million) by 2023 on the automated system. With the investment works scheduled to complete in March of next year, SSEN has installed the system to over 65% of the earmarked network sites, enabling a more resilient power supply for homes and businesses across central southern England.

SSEN’s Alex King, who oversees the distribution operator’s automation planning, said: “As we head into the winter months, I’m delighted that SSEN has already installed this ‘self-restoring’ system to 166 of the 253 sites we had listed to benefit from APRS by the end of this financial year.

“As more local homes and businesses take up low carbon technologies – such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar panels – SSEN is working to provide a network that is fit for the future,” added King.

“By investing in technology, such as APRS, SSEN is building in a further layer of resilience to electricity supplies; keeping power flowing to customers through an efficient and steady supply.”