Tuesday 13 April 2021

Kingston boosted by £4.2 million electricity supply upgrade

Thousands of residents in Kingston are benefiting from a £4.2 million electricity network upgrade.

UK Power Networks has completed a four-year project which will futureproof a substation that helps to deliver safe and reliable electricity supplies to more than 73,000 local homes and businesses.

Electrical engineers have installed four new pieces of equipment, known as transformers, which reduce voltage to deliver electricity safely to other local substations and on to homes.

Paul Rogers, project manager at UK Power Networks, said: “We energised the last of four new transformers at the substation, marking the culmination of a significant investment project that will maintain reliable electricity supplies for the residents, businesses and communities we serve in Kingston.

“The upgraded electricity substation is well equipped to meet future growth in demand for electricity and keep electricity supplies flowing to the local community for years to come.”

The essential equipment plays a key role in enabling people to heat and light their homes and businesses, charge smartphones, power TVs and computers.

The new transformers replaced equipment installed in the 1960s, which was well maintained. Each new transformer, weighing approximately 90-tonnes, receives electricity at 132,000-volts and lowers it to 33,000-volts.

The project in Kingston forms part of the £600 million UK Power Networks is investing in the electricity network across the South East, London and East of England this year. From schools to hospitals, water supplies to railway stations, the electricity network helps to keep a large part of the country running smoothly. More than eight million homes and businesses are connected to electricity via the company’s cables and substations in total.