Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) own and operate the distribution network of overhead lines, underground and submarine cables which deliver a safe supply of electricity to homes and businesses across the north of Scotland and some of the Scottish Islands.
SHEPD are seeking views from stakeholders throughout Scotland to inform the development of a cost benefit analysis tool, which will be used to demonstrate whether or not the additional cost of protecting submarine electricity cables, represents value to our electricity customers and wider stakeholders.
At the moment, 110 of the 111 submarine cables which supply electricity to these islands are laid directly on the seabed and are not subject to protection measures. Scotland’s National Marine Plan includes policies on how submarine electricity cables are laid and protected on the seabed to achieve seabed user co-existence. These policies may require us to change our long established approach. Such a change would require significant additional capital expenditure, which will ultimately be paid for by electricity consumers on the Scottish islands and across the north of Scotland under current arrangements.
We are embarking on a significant piece of work to better understand the case for changing our engineering practices, to meet the requirements of Scotland’s National Marine Plan in terms of how submarine electricity cables are laid and protected on the seabed. This will include the development of a cost benefit analysis model which will be used to demonstrate (to ourselves, our consumers, our regulators – Ofgem and Marine Scotland, and all users of the marine environment) that the method(s) we propose to deploy in the future for laying and protecting cables around the coast of Scotland:
- satisfies the current legislation
- employs the most sustainable method when considering the economic, safety, wider social and environmental impacts.
The output of this approach will identify the benefits (to the cable, a wide range of stakeholders and electricity consumers) and determine if the additional expenditure provides best value and is justifiable.
Our consultation officially launches on 8th September 2015, however we wanted to give you advanced notice of forthcoming meetings where you will be able to ask further questions and have an opportunity to provide face-to-face feedback on our identified impacts and method(s) for quantifying them.
| Date | Time | Location |
| 09 September 2015 | 10:00 – 12:00 and14:00 – 16:00 | Caladh Inn, 11 James Street, Stornoway, Isle Of Lewis, HS1 2QN |
| 15 September 2015 | 10:00 – 12:00 and14:00 – 16:00 | Caledonian Hotel, Station Square, Oban, PA34 5RT |
| 16 September 2015 | 10:00 – 12:00 and13:00 – 15:00 | Aqualibrium, Kinloch Park Kinloch Road, Campbeltown, PA28 6EG |
| 28 September 2015 | 11:00 – 13:00 and14:00 – 16:00 | Station Hotel, 78 Guild St, Aberdeen, AB11 6GN |
| 29 September 2015 | 13:00 – 15:00 and17:00 – 19:00 | The Orkney Hotel, 40 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DN |
| 01 October 2015 | 10:00 – 12:00 and14:00 – 16:00 | Shetland Museum & Archives, Hay’s Dock, Lerwick, ZE1 0WP |
If you would like to attend, please respond to submarinecables@sse.com stating which event you would like to attend.