Engineers from UK Power Networks have upgraded an electricity substation to maintain reliable supplies for thousands of homes and businesses in Cranleigh.

The project involved a £360,000 investment in new circuit breakers and switches on the electricity network, which delivers safe and reliable electricity supplies to nearly 10,000 homes and businesses in Cranleigh and the surrounding area.

The team worked night shifts throughout the three-week project to complete the work at off-peak times avoiding disruption to the community, and rerouted electricity supplies via alternative substations so they could safely work on the equipment.

Ben Allen, project supervisor at UK Power Networks, said:

We have retro-fitted eight circuit breakers and installed three switches, which improve network flexibility in the event of a power cut, so it is easier for us to isolate faults, carry out work and reconnect supplies. They also have lower maintenance costs.

The engineering team needed access to private land to install the new switches and want to thank local residents for their support for the project.

Circuit breakers protect the network by automatically switching off supplies in the event of a fault and then make the network live again.

The project is one of several electricity network improvements taking place across the South East as part of a £600 million network investment this year to maintain reliable electricity supplies.

UK Power Networks runs electricity supplies to more than 8.3 million homes and businesses across the South East, London and East of England.