Electricity network operator SSEN Distribution has selected four firms to deliver multi-year, £300m investment in the north of Scotland’s overhead line network.

The four contract partners to deliver the work are Aureos Energy, IES Utilities Group, Ipsum Group and Network Distribution Services (NDS).

The work will increase network capacity and renew and strengthen the existing overhead electricity network across the north of Scotland in the coming years.

The network of overhead power lines are largely supported on wooden poles and is a critical means of carrying electricity over long distances to communities in the north of Scotland.

SSEN also says electricity demand is increasing as more people and businesses use clean power for heating and transportation, so “a robust, resilient overland network” is more important than ever.

An increasingly-volatile climate, where severe storms are becoming more common, means overhead power lines need to be further reinforced to better withstand adverse weather.

The framework agreements are for an initial five years, with the option of a three-year extension.

Aureos is renewing its current relationship with SSEN Distribution following successful delivery over the past five years in the Highlands, Skye, the Western Isles and Orkney. It is now adding Shetland to the area it covers.

IES Utilities - which has supported SSEN during past storms - will now help deliver further network strengthening and resilience on the network in the North East, covering Aberdeenshire and most of Moray.

IPSUM already delivers infrastructure works in SSEN Distribution’s central southern England network area. Its teams are experienced in delivering overhead line works across remote and weather-affected regions, and have also provided support during recent storms. IPSUM will deliver works for the Inner Hebrides, Argyll, Kintyre and Arran.

NDS is a family-run firm based in Perth. While it’s previously been a sub-contractor for SSEN Distribution in the north of Scotland, this is the first time it’s been awarded a contract directly. NDS will deliver works in Perthshire, Stirling, Dundee and Angus.

James Flanagan, SSEN Distribution's director of procurement, said: “Energy bills are a concern for families and businesses, so it’s incumbent on network operators like us to ensure we invest wisely so that local grids operate more reliably and efficiently than ever before. Together with our new framework partners, we’ll work very hard over the years of these agreements to meet customers’ expectations of us.”