OREANDA-NEWS. More than a hundred engineers and technical staff from Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) are working in Ballater to restore power supplies in the aftermath of Storm Frank.

The severe flooding that hit the Aberdeenshire village washed away some of SHEPD's electricity poles; landslides made roads impassible; and flood waters made some substations inaccessible.

Overnight our engineers reconnected supply to properties where it was safe to do so. SHEPD engineers are working with Police Scotland and other agencies to gain entry to homes to carry out a safety assessment before reconnecting them to the mains network.

With rain and strong winds subsiding, we now have three helicopters flying over Ballater and the north east of Scotland to assess any other damage to the network and to carry out repairs. Our teams of engineers and welfare staff have also been able to gain access to the village and surrounding areas.

SHEPD is advising residents of flooded properties in Ballater to speak to one of its engineers in the village before attempting to switch on the power supply.

200 properties are currently off supply in Ballater itself, another 250 are without power in the surrounding areas.

Besides Ballater, our engineers are working hard to restore power to:

  • 22 customers in Newtonhill, Stonehaven;
  • 13 customers in Garthdee, Aberdeen;
  • 50 customerrs in Peterculter;
  • 131 customers in Archiestown, Aberlour; and
  • 220 customers in Meikleour, Perthshire.

As well as reconnecting power supplies, SHEPD has also rolled out its welfare programme in Ballater and nearby Braemar. A mobile catering unit providing free hot food and drink is in Ballater, with a food and welfare unit in Braemar too. Our welfare teams are also on the ground to ensure that vulnerable customers in SHEPD's priority services register are catered for. SHEPD has also contracted a firm of specialists to carry out house-to-house electrical safety checks.

SHEPD has set-up a hub in Craigendarroch Hotel in Ballater from where all our technical, safety and welfare operation is being coordinated. Residents with any welfare or electrical safety issues are urged to contact our staff at the hotel.