Get connected

October 12, 2005 | Leave a Comment |

Our plot was not yet connected to the power grid, so we had to arrange for a new connection. In an earlier phase - during the process of acquiring the plot - we thought that this connection would be as easy as connecting a powercable to the powerline located at our neighbours land. Probably only a matter of digging a trench and some yards of cable…

This is actually not how it works…

No electricity, no life… So one of the first steps for plot development is to get connected to the power grid. In our situation, this appeared to be quite a significant operation. Connecting our plot would require two additional high voltage poles, a new transformer and cable.

Furthermore, if new poles have to be put into the ground, there might arise a situation where someone else has to give his/hers consent about the placement of the poles on their ground. From what we understand, this is a formality, but still could be considered a hurdle… In our specific situation, the owners of Skinidin 17 have to agree about the placement of the new poles.

So what should you do when you buy a plot of land on Skye for building your house and there’s no electrical connection?

Check out whether electricity is available at reasonable cost. “Reasonable” is ofcourse not a fixed number, it depends on many things not all of them quantifyable in my opinion. One easy way to do this, is to get in contact with the local guy of SSE Power Distribution and check with him how to proceed for a quote on the connection or go online with the website of Scottish and Southern Energy plc

Check whether you need consent of surrounding landowners for your connection. Also, the Electricity Company should be able to tell you this.

Posted by roger | Filed Under House Project, Plot development 

Reply from SSE

October 11, 2005 | Leave a Comment |

Today we got a forwarded email Jon received from SSE, the Scottish electricity company. The reply is actually good news; check it out…

For privacy reasons we’ve edited out the names of the contacts and their phone numbers.

Dear Mr Howarth

I refer to your letter dated 28th November sent to our Oban office. It is always difficult trying to obtain the consent of landowners residing abroad and in this case we were hampered by the original documents going missing in transit. However the wayleave document has now been returned and everything is now in place to carry out proposed work in providing the new supply.

I will forward all the consent details to [...] in our Portree office and would advise that you contact him to make sure that the plant can be installed to meet your timescales.

If you require to discuss anything further regarding the consent process please do not hesitate to contact me or require to discuss any aspect of the installation work please contact [...].

Yours sincerely

[...]

Scottish Hydro-Electric Power Distribution

Posted by roger | Filed Under House Project, Plot development