SSE and its committed employees are working hard to support the safe and reliable supply of electricity at local, regional and national level, on which the people and organisations whose work is critical to the Coronavirus response depend.
SSE is collaborating on a daily basis with government authorities across the UK and Ireland. In the absence of specific guidance and with companies understandably expected to use their judgement on what is critical, SSE is currently deeming critical activity to relate to that which is:
- Essential to the safe and reliable supply of electricity in the medium term, which includes meeting our regulatory obligations until the end of the coming winter.
- Protecting the public – through the provision of electricity, streetlighting, telecoms, gas, heat and water.
- Directly supporting organisations critical to the Coronavirus response and SSE’s own Coronavirus response.
- Providing support for vulnerable customers, including those customers we supply directly with energy
In conducting its critical work, there will be the need to be active on certain construction sites where it fits the criteria above and SSE will continue to engage constructively with all relevant authorities, adapting our advice in line with what is clearly an evolving situation.
All workers who can work from home are doing so. Where we can’t progress critical work remotely, we will work with our contract partners to ensure work is progressed safely and that we are sensitive to the needs and concerns of the communities that we serve.
Alistair Phillips-Davies, SSE Chief Executive, said:
“Our employees are playing a critical role in supporting the safe and reliable supply of electricity during this crisis. We are proud of the essential work that they do and as this situation evolves we will do everything we can to help communities, customers and wider society by providing the energy that they need. Working closely with governments and regulators, we are doing our best to minimise the impact.”