News Releases

Western Power Distribution (WPD) is investing £200,000 on its electricity network in Ashbourne to manage future demand in the area and to further safeguard supply reliability.

WPD became the electricity distribution business responsible for the Midlands in April 2011, and this new initiative involves overlaying some of the low voltage (415 volt) mains cable with new cable.

The work is due to take place in February after the Shrovetide Football and is hoped to be complete by Easter.

The work will improve the security of the electricity network infrastructure for customers in and around the market place in Ashbourne. The work also includes the installation of extra link boxes. These allow WPD to re-route electricity supplies where possible and get customers back on supply as quickly as possible if ever there is a fault.  

“Our aim is to invest to maintain the reliability of electricity supplies for years to come,” said Simon Roper, WPD Team Manager responsible for Ashbourne.

“We are committed to providing a consistently high level of service to customers and will have spent over £2 billion on our network between 2010 and 2015.”

The cables will be laid in the footpath from Victoria Square along the A515 (St. John Street) and through the Market Place back to Victoria Square. This will include some roadworks on St. John Street and the Market Place.

“While this work is being undertaken, our aim is to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum. Our intention is to work during off peak times and keep customers who live and work along the route informed by letter. We are also planning to hold a meeting in Ashbourne Market Place to discuss our work and answer any questions. We will be providing more information about this shortly,” said Simon.

Note for newsdesks:

• Western Power Distribution (WPD) is the distribution network operator for the Midlands, South West England and South Wales, and is responsible for delivering electricity to approximately 7.7 million customers in the UK.
• WPD is not an electricity supply company and does not bill customers in the UK. Its responsibility is to distribute electricity from the point of generation to homes and businesses.