Electricity linesmen from Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD) have started a £350,000 project to refurbish components on the main electricity lines feeding the Isle of Wight.
Over the past two weeks, engineers have replaced over 900 insulators and other fittings at pylons located on a 2.5 mile stretch of network between Langley and Lepe. This part of the network is linked to undersea circuits which supply electricity to the Isle of Wight, and with the work now completed it will help provide a more reliable electricity supply for the Island, with the high voltage overhead lines better able to withstand rough weather.
The work is part of a large project which will continue over the summer on the Isle of Wight, when similar fittings on the overhead lines between Cowes and Wootton Common will also be replaced.
SEPD overhead line manager, Neil Derbyshire, said: “Our job is to keep the lights on for all our customers, and an important part of that job is the ongoing maintenance and upgrades to our network. This part of the network dates back many years and whilst it is still perfectly safe and carrying out the job it is meant to do, because it is so close to the coast where it is subject to sea winds and the effects of salt, this has meant that the metalwork was beginning to show signs of rust. By replacing these parts with newer and more modern fittings, we’ll be making the network stronger and give it a longer lifespan; we're planning similar works on the Isle of Wight later in the summer, which will improve the network, helping to keep the lights on for the thousands of residents on the Island.”