News Releases

Over £11 million is being spent on a major initiative to boost power supplies in Herefordshire.

Western Power Distribution (WPD), the electricity distributor for the region, is committed to investing in its network to further improve supply reliability and customer service levels. The investment is also designed to better accommodate the increased demands placed on the power network from regeneration in Hereford city.

This new initiative involves the construction of a new substation in Hereford, the upgrading of equipment in a major substation near Dormington and 9km of 66,000 volt new cable being laid between them. This will help to further safeguard supply reliability to around 8,000 customers in the city centre.

“It ensures that we can provide a high level of service to these areas in the long term by improving the infrastructure and security of our electricity network,” said Mick Dunne, WPD’s Projects Manager for the area.

The project is due to start on February 17 with completion expected by September 2014. Cable laying works are being carried out by JSM.

Added Mick: “While this work is being undertaken, our aim is to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum. We have been liaising with Hereford City Council and the Highways Agency to agree on a cable route which creates the least disruption for traffic flow in the area.

“Our intention is also to work on major junctions during off peak times and to keep customers who live along the route informed by letter. We have also been speaking with local bus companies about our plans.

“Representatives from WPD and their contractors JSM will be available to discuss the works in further detail between 4.30pm and 8pm on Wednesday February 5, in Hampton Park United Reform Church Hall.”       

Note for newsdesks:

• Western Power Distribution (WPD) is the distribution network operator for the Midlands, South West England and South Wales, and is responsible for delivering electricity to approximately 7.8 million customers in the UK.
• WPD is not an electricity supply company and does not bill customers in the UK. Its responsibility is to distribute electricity from the point of generation to homes and businesses.