News / Power off for 800
ENGINEERS from Scottish & Southern Energy in Shetland had a busy Sunday night reconnecting customers following a “large” lightning storm.
Around 500 households in Tronda and Burra lost their power at 8pm after lightning struck the overhead network setting a pole on fire near Scalloway.
A spokesman for SSE said engineers managed to bring back power in stages, with the last customers being reconnected by 5am on Monday.
A second lightning strike near Brae at 10pm disconnected electricity supplies to 285 households in the north mainland of Shetland.
The spokesman said that most of the customers had their power back within 30 minutes, with the last 15 households being reconnected by 3am.
Engineers are still working on a number of “localised faults” and are also checking the network after what was described as “quite a large lightning storm” that caused damage to the overhead network, conductors and surge protectors.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 630 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.