"Final push" to reconnect power to less than 100 homes after Storm Otto

More than 43,000 homes across the North and North East have already had their power restored.

Author: Liam RossPublished 19th Feb 2023

Engineers have been working through the weekend to restore electricity to homes affected by Storm Otto.

The first named storm of the winter left thousands without power across the North and North East of Scotland.

However, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution say they've reconnected more than 43,000 properties, with less than 100 properties currently off supply.

These are mainly affecting customers in rural Aberdeenshire, with SSEN saying they're confident everyone will have power restored by 6pm.

Engineers expecting to make "good progress" today

On Friday morning, winds of around 80mph were felt in most parts, with Highland and Islands Weather saying a 101mph gust was recorded in Invergordon.

The North East of Scotland College campus in Aberdeen was forced to close on Friday and Saturday due to weather damage.

Classes are set to resume as normal on Monday.

Various schools across Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland were also shut due to the lack of power.

SSEN Distribution Operations Director Mark Rough feels they expect to make "good progress" throughout today.

He said: "After further progress reconnecting customers late last light, our teams have been back out since first light this morning in the final push to repair damage and restore power to those remaining customers who remain off supply.

"We expect to make good progress throughout the course of today and remain confident all customers will be back reconnected by this evening at the latest.

"We continue to work closely with our resilience partners to support our customers as required, particularly those on our Priority Services Register, and would encourage anyone who may need additional support to contact our dedicated teams on the power cut helpline, 105."

SSEN say welfare food vans remain in operation on Market street in Maud and a location in Turriff is to be confirmed shortly.

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