UK Power Networks starts £2.5million project to boost power capacity in Hemel Hempstead

Work is underway on a major project to boost power supplies for homes and businesses in Hemel Hempstead to help cater for the town’s growth.

The population of Hemel Hempstead has increased by more than 10 per cent over the past two decades meaning an upgrade of existing infrastructure is needed.

A £2.5 million investment by UK Power Networks, which distribute electricity across the East of England, will future-proof Hemel’s power supplies by increasing capacity.

The work, which will take around a year, will be at Warners End to the west of the town and will boost the reliability of power supplies for more than 8,000 customers.

UK Power Networks is replacing one existing transformer with two new ones to make the network more resilient.

Transformers are pieces of electrical equipment which step down power from the national grid to deliver it at a safe voltage to local customers.

Arinze Udenwa, project manager for UK Power Networks, said: “We closely monitor our equipment and run maintenance and replacement programmes to safeguard power supplies.

“The existing electrical equipment at Warners End has served us well for decades and is being replaced by two new 33/11KV transformers which will increase the power capacity for what is a growing residential area.

“This project is one of many multi-million pound schemes we are carrying out this year with support from our Capital Programme Delivery alliance partners to make sure we continue to provide resilient power supplies for the local communities we serve.”

Throughout the work UK Power Networks will follow Public Health England advice to keep its employees, contractors and customers safe and its work will be carried out in line with the latest Covid-19 health and safety guidance.

The network company is also asking customers not to approach its teams if they see them working unless it’s an electricity emergency – and, if they do, to maintain social distancing at all times.