Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for the electricity network that powers everyday life for 8 million customers across 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, is about to start an £8.2 million investment programme to boost the reliability and resilience of the electricity network serving Epworth and Haxey. This will improve resilience and ensure the area has enough power capacity for every home and business to adopt low carbon technologies.

This project was made possible after Northern Powergrid successfully secured £53 million last year through the national Green Recovery Scheme which has enabled electricity network companies to accelerate investment in vital local electricity networks and unlock network capacity for green growth projects like electric transport and heating and wider infrastructure development.

Taking place between the end of January 2022 and summer 2023, Northern Powergrid’s work in the area focuses on upgrading its existing substations at Epworth and Haxey, as well as installing 6.6km of underground electricity cables between the two. This will ensure there is enough capacity to serve the area as the population grows and people become more reliant on electricity for work, travel and to heat their homes. It could also support the fast-tracking of green projects to create new jobs and opportunities.                  

There are no plans to turn off anyone’s power while the work takes place and it is unlikely that access to premises will be required. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and Northern Powergrid will ensure that any businesses affected can plan to continue to receive their deliveries.

Northern Powergrid is committed to keeping local people informed and will be writing to anyone directly impacted before work starts along each section of the route.

Andrew Preece, Northern Powergrid’s Customer Service Manager for the South Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire region said: “We’re always aware of the potential impact of our work on people’s everyday lives, which is why we always try to minimise disruption as much as we can. We’ll be issuing information to all customers along the route to explain what we’ll be doing and when and we’ll also be issuing ongoing updates via local councillors, the media and social media. Our communications will also provide details of how to sign up for our free Priority Services Membership which offers extra support to customers who may be more vulnerable.”                       

Anyone wanting to find out more about Northern Powergrid and the Green Recovery Scheme can visit northernpowergrid.com/green-recovery, contact Northern Powergrid’s customer care team by calling 0800 011 3332 or by email generalenquiries@northernpowergrid.com. The network operator is also available 24/7 on Facebook and Twitter (@northpowergrid).                                                      

To translate information into another language, people can click the Accessibility icon at the top of all Northern Powergrid’s web pages or call its language line on 0800 389 8204.

People who find it difficult to speak or hear can use text phone 0800 028 9507 or text relay: dial 18001 followed by 0800 169 2996.                                                      

Those who are visually impaired can click the Accessibility icon at the top of Northern Powergrid’s web pages to change font sizes and colours or click the Recite Me icon to have information read out to them. People can also sign up to receive communications in larger print or Braille by calling the Powergrid Care Team on 0800 169 2996.