Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD) customers in and around Godalming and Milford are to benefit from a more secure electricity supply with the installation of a £1.5m underground cable between the two towns.
SEPD will install the cable between its main substations in the towns, which will make supplies in the area more robust and less susceptible to power cuts. The work begins on 31 May and will run through the summer months until its completion in September.
SEPD Project Manager, Yu Qian, said the project would make a dramatic difference to the reliability of the electricity supply for the local communities. He said: “The electricity to homes and businesses in and around Godalming and Milford is at the moment delivered by two overhead lines. We invest millions every year to ensure that trees and vegetation are kept away from our overhead network, but unfortunately, as we have seen in recent years, storms can still bring trees down on the line and cause power cuts. This new underground cable will take away the risk of tree damage, and go a long way to delivering a more secure and robust electricity supply to customers in the area.”
SEPD carried out extensive preparatory work and consultation as part of the route design, and will be using a Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) while working in certain parts of the project, as this minimises the need for trenches and excavation when installing the new underground cable.
Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey, said: “This investment to upgrade the local electricity network is good news for customers in the Godalming and Milford areas. Having met with representatives from SEPD in the past I know they are committed to doing everything they can to minimise the risk of powercuts, and so this project is welcome news.”
To give residents the opportunity to learn more about the project and the route the new cable will take, SEPD is hosting a drop-in session on 24 May at The Manor House, Huxley Close, Godalming GU7 2AS between 4:30 – 9pm, where members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions. In addition, if anyone is not able to attend, project plans can be found on our facebook page after the event.