Electricity North West signs £400m maintenance deal

Electricity North West has awarded contracts for an eight year, £400m deal to maintain and upgrade its underground power network to Network Plus Services and O'Connor Utilities.

10th January 2020 by Networks

Electricity North West signs £400m maintenance deal

Network Plus, formally known as T&K Gallagher, will continue its operations in the northern half of the Electricity North West operating area, covering Cumbria and Lancashire.

O’Connor Utilities will operate in the south, including Greater Manchester and the surrounding area. It will replace the incumbent contractor, Excalon.

Both companies will start work on 1 April 2020.

Electricity North West is responsible for maintaining 44,000km of underground electricity cables throughout the north west.

The distribution network operator is investing £1.9bn between 2015 and 2023 to in its overhead lines and underground cables.

Peter Emery, chief executive at Electricity North West, said: “Following a comprehensive tender process, I’m pleased to confirm Network Plus and O’Connor Utilities as our partners for completing underground construction work throughout the North West for the next eight years.

“This is a crucial time for the North West’s power network. We expect electricity usage to significantly increase as we move towards a decarbonised economy. That means more electricity flowing through our network being fed in from more and more renewable sources, powering electric vehicles and the homes of the future.

“Getting the right contractors at the right price is vital for the network and all our customers. I look forward to working alongside both companies as we continue to upgrade the region’s power network to keep the North West running.”