11 April 2005 00:00 Central Networks plans boost for region’s power
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England is getting ready this April to start its £1bn investment programme in the region’s electricity network during the next five years.
The company, which is celebrating its first birthday this month, is also gearing up to take on an extra 600 staff over the next three years to deliver its investment programme.
Central Networks serves over 4.8 million customers across the Midlands and employs more than 4,000 people at its various sites. The company was formed in April 2004 when its owner E.ON UK merged its East Midlands Electricity with Midlands Electricity.
Managing Director Bob Taylor said: “We’ve achieved so much over the last year. We’ve been busy creating Central Networks, following the acquisition of Midlands Electricity, and now our regulator, Ofgem, has given us the green light to invest £1.2bn on the electricity network and to improve supplies to our customers across the Midlands.
“The increased investment (of around 55%) is needed because of greater demand in the area, and particularly to replace parts of the electricity network, some of which is over fifty years old.
“The extra investment is excellent news for all our customers in the East and West Midlands. It’s a huge boost to ensure the network is sustained and improved.”
Work programmes will involve improvements to rural overhead lines and urban networks, as well as a number of multi-million pound infrastructure projects across the region.
“We’ll need an extra 600 people to help us deliver the investment over the coming years” said Bob.
“And that investment in people offers us another challenge because finding the right people with the right skills won’t be easy. We’ve taken this on by developing pioneering initiatives and projects to encourage more people into our sector.”
Central Networks already has a successful apprenticeship scheme and is now looking to develop close links with schools and colleges across the region.
And key to the company’s success this year has been the hard work and dedication of all the Central Networks team.
“Without the efforts of all our employees we wouldn’t be celebrating today” said Bob.
“They’ve all worked tremendously hard over the last year and, with their continued help and dedication, we can work together to deliver the electricity network our customers across the region deserve.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.
For further information and pictures contact:
Kathy Doyle on 024 7642 4292
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779
Out of hours, call 024 7642 4000 and ask for the duty press officer