Keeping the lights on...

We are responsible for around 130,000km of power cables, distributing electricity to 3.5 million homes, offices and businesses in the north of Scotland and central, southern England.

Distribution price control review

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Weather update

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The weather can disrupt electricity supplies. If it does, you can rest assured we will do everything to restore power as quickly as possible. 

About us

Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD), Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) and Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited (SHETL) make up Scottish and Southern Power Distribution which is part of the SSE group

SSE at a glance

SSE is a FTSE 100 company and one of the largest and most respected energy companies in the UK. As well as being involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity, SSE has interests in energy trading, energy services, gas storage, the distribution and supply of gas, electrical and utility contracting and telecoms.

Customer service

We are committed to offering our customers the very best standards of service. You can be sure that whenever you get in touch with us, you will be greeted in a friendly manner.

Performance standards

We promise to achieve certain performance standards which are backed by a guarantee. They were established by the Electricity (Standards of Performance) Regulations 2005 and were extended in 2010.

In an emergency

In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the police. They will contact the electrical distribution company responsible for the network in your area.

Electrical danger

Electricity is something we all take for granted. We are taught from an early age that electricity can be dangerous, but it’s sometimes easy to forget this, particularly when the hazards it presents are not immediately visible or obvious.

Our Press Office

We welcome enquiries from professional journalists and provide a 24-hour service for urgent enquiries.

To contact our Press Office, please call:
0845 0760 530 

SHETL to develop subsea electricity cable between Caithness and Moray

23 Mar 2012

We are planning to develop a 109 km subsea electricity cable between Caithness and Moray to transmit the large volume of existing and planned electricity from renewable sources in the north of Scotland.

What we do

In both our distribution areas, our first priority is to provide a safe and reliable supply of electricity to our domestic, commercial and industrial customers alike.

Our transmission Business Plan January update

Link to January 2012 update. PDF opens in new window.

Following consultation with key stakeholders, we have updated our  Business Plan for our transmission business and submitted it to Ofgem.

Your supply connection

If you are looking for a new or altered electricity supply connection from our network then we can help.

Your generation connection

Networks engineers up a pole

If you are considering the installation of generation to operate on our network then we can help.

Regulatory information

This section includes information ranging from charging statements to compliance and financial information.

Stakeholder information

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution is committed to communication and engagement with customers and stakeholders who are affected by developments in electricity distribution and transmission.

  • RIIO-T1 Transmission price control review

    SHETL publications

    Following Ofgem’s decision to maintain SHETL on the ‘fast-track’ timetable, we have been working on updating our Business Plan to reflect the areas which required further clarity and understanding of how our plan was to be implemented and delivered whilst still giving due regard to the uncertainty which surrounds much of the requirements for us to develop our network throughout this period.

    We have now published our January 2012 Update document  to support our July Business Plan based on Ofgem’s initial assessment. Further supporting information can available be read in conjunction with this January 2012 Update providing further background to how we have informed our decisions in our Latest Documents section.

    Following Ofgem’s decision to maintain SHETL on the ‘fast-track’ timetable, we have been working on updating our Business Plan to reflect the areas which required further clarity and understanding of how our plan was to be implemented and delivered whilst still giving due regard to the uncertainty which surrounds much of the requirements for us to develop our network throughout this period. We have now published our to support our July Business Plan based on Ofgem’s initial assessment. Further supporting information can available be read in conjunction with this January 2012 Update providing further background to how we have informed our decisions in our .

    Background

    Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited (SHETL) owns and maintains the 5,000km high voltage electricity network of underground cables and overhead lines that serves the northern part of Scotland and connects to central and southern Scotland and the rest of Great Britain. Electricity networks like this provide a physical link between electricity generators and electricity users. SHETL’s duties and obligations include ensuring we are able to provide an economic and efficient service to generators who wish to connect electricity onto our network.

    Because electricity transmission businesses like SHETL are natural regional monopolies, they are regulated by Ofgem through a ‘price control’. Amongst other things, this determines the amount of revenue they can earn from network users and the framework for capital investment in developing; maintaining and upgrading the networks.

    Transmission price control from 1 April 2013

    During 2008-2010, Ofgem undertook a detailed review of the way electricity and gas networks in Great Britain are regulated - the RPI-X@20 review. Ofgem published its decision document in October 2010 to implement a new regulatory framework, known as the RIIO model (revenue = incentives+innovation+outputs) of which the electricity transmission network review will form one of the first under this process and be known as RIIO-T1. These decisions form the basis for determining the transmission price control which is due to begin on 1 April 2013. Visit Ofgem's website for more information about the review.

    One of Ofgem’s key decisions is to adopt an outputs-led approach to network regulation. This means regulated companies such as SHETL will need to define the service levels or outputs they expect to deliver to their customers. The prices they will be allowed to charge for the use of their networks will be based on delivering those service levels or outputs. The companies might face penalties for not meeting the defined standards or secure rewards for exceeding them.

    Ofgem published the results of their initial consultation on the strategy for the transmission price control in December 2010. They have followed this up with their decision on strategy document at the end of March 2011. Ofgem published their initial assessment to our Business Plan submission in October 2011, with a detailed annex document.

    Ofgem published a letter, RIIO-T1: Decision on fast tracking, as an update on the progress SHETL has made on 'fast-tracking' on 23 January 2012 confirming their acceptance of our Business Plan as suitable for 'fast-tracking' subject to a consultation on Initial Proposals which they will issue on 6 February 2012.

  • If you require any further information about the price control review, it can be found on Ofgem's website.

    If you have any further queries on our business plan:

    Write to SHETL at:
    Transmission Review
    Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited
    Inveralmond House
    200 Dunkeld Road
    Perth PH1 3AQ

    Email: transmission.review@sse.com 

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