Electricity substations

No, substations are restricted areas for safety reasons. Only authorised personnel are allowed to enter. If you notice any issues or need assistance, please contact us by completing the Enquiry form or calling 0800 195 4141.

There may be a cost depending on the reason, duration and work involved, but we strongly recommend contacting us to discuss the details.

Unfortunately, we can’t turn the power off at a substation as we have to provide a continuous supply of electricity to our customers.

The landowners are responsible for the surrounding area which might not be SP Electricity North West.  You will need to contact your local council for public land or if it’s privately owned, the landowner will be responsible. 

Substations are regularly inspected and maintained by trained professionals to ensure they operate safely and efficiently. Maintenance schedules vary depending on the type and location of the substation.

Power cuts can occur due to various reasons, including weather conditions, equipment failure or damage to the substation. Our team works quickly to identify and resolve issues to restore power as soon as possible.

Substations are designed to meet strict safety standards and are regularly monitored to ensure they do not pose any health risks to the public. The electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced by substations are well within safe limits.

Substations are equipped with various safety features, including secure fencing, warning signs, and surveillance systems. Regular inspections and maintenance are conducted to ensure all safety protocols are followed.

Types of substations owned and managed by SP Electricity North West

Distribution substations 11,000 volts

A distribution substation is like a smaller transformer station that helps manage and distribute electricity to homes and businesses in your local area. 

Primary substations 33,000 volts

A primary substation is like a big transformer station that helps manage and distribute electricity. It takes high-voltage electricity from the transmission network and steps it down to a lower voltage that can be safely delivered to homes and businesses.

Substation 132 kilovolts (kV)

A transmission substation that operates at a high voltage used in power transmission grids, it's a key point where high voltage electricity is received, stepped down to a lower voltage, and then distributed to smaller areas through feeder lines.

Substation maintenance programme

We’re committed to maintaining our 20,000 substations to ensure they are safe and well-kept for both our engineers and the communities nearby.

Our maintenance teams
We have a dedicated team of over 30 operatives who work tirelessly throughout the year, in all weather conditions, to manage the vegetation and general upkeep of our substations. Each substation is visited at least once a year, with some requiring multiple visits to keep vegetation under control.  Although we have a robust maintenance programme, we really value customer's feedback on the condition of our assets. 

Seasonal work programme
Our maintenance activities vary between summer and winter to best address the needs of each season:
• Summer maintenance: During the summer, we trim vegetation to a height of 6 inches, rake up and remove all waste, and apply herbicide to prevent further growth. Herbicide is only used during the growing season (April – October) as it is ineffective outside this period.
• Winter maintenance: In the winter, we focus on clearing dead vegetation, tidying up hedges, and removing all waste from the site.

Wildlife protection
We are mindful of the wildlife around our substations. To protect nesting birds, we avoid hedge cutting during the main breeding season (March to August). We always check for active nests before any cutting, as it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 to disturb or destroy nests, eggs, or birds.

Legal compliance
Our team is only permitted to work on land owned by SP Electricity North West, so our maintenance efforts are focused on these areas.
We take pride in our work and strive to keep our substations safe and well-maintained for everyone. Thank you for your understanding and support.

We’re improving the biodiversity around our substations

We're excited to share our efforts to improve biodiversity around our substations as part of our comprehensive environmental plan. Our goal is to create and maintain environmentally friendly sites that support local ecosystems.

Key initiatives:

• Biodiversity Improvement Plan: We're transforming 100 sites to be more nature-friendly.
• Mowing Schedule: We mow the surrounding areas twice a year to encourage the growth of native wildflower species. This provides essential habitats and opportunities for these plants to set seed.
• Nutrient Management: By removing the cuttings after mowing, we reduce soil nutrients, which helps control competitive grasses. This allows a wider variety of native plants to thrive, benefiting pollinating insects.

To learn more about our environmental plans, visit our Our environment web page.