20 April 2006 00:00 Central Networks beginning work on new hi tech substation to power up Birmingham
Work will begin early next month on a new substation in Kitt’s Green as part of electricity distribution company Central Networks’ £40m investment programme in Birmingham.
Around 80,000 homes and businesses in the east of the city will benefit from the investment, with work taking place over several years to reinforce the electricity supply.
This is the largest project ever undertaken by Central Networks, which is part of E.ON UK, and it will replace sections of the power network dating back to the 1930s that are nearing the end of their working life.
Work will start in early May on the construction of a new state of the art substation on waste ground between houses on Cliffe Drive and the Alcoa aluminium plant.
The high voltage substation will be fully contained within a single building, and the surrounding area will be landscaped as part of the project. The power supply to homes in Cliffe Drive will not be affected while the substation is being built, but residents will notice an increase in traffic around the site.
David Bailey, Contract Delivery Manager with Central Networks, said: “This work will mean the existing service becomes even better, but it will, unfortunately, also mean some disruption for people in Cliffe Drive while the substation is being built.
“We apologise for this but I can assure local people that we’ll be doing everything we can to minimise disruption, and will get the work finished safely and as quickly as possible.”
Customers with homes and businesses in Kitt’s Green affected by this work are being contacted by Central Networks directly with further details of the intended work.
The programme of work in Birmingham forms just part of a five-year £1.2bn investment being made by Central Networks into the electricity distribution network across central England.
Ends
Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth almost four times – 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 contact:
Jane Branscombe on 024 7642 5528
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779
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