Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution
SSEN Distribution has delivered the first of 20,000 home battery packs to vulnerable customers across central southern England and the north of Scotland, in what it describes as an industry first for a UK network operator.
The portable batteries are being provided free of charge to eligible Priority Services customers, particularly those medically dependent on electricity for equipment at home.
With a capacity of 1,024Wh, the EcoFlow Delta 3 units can power essential devices including medical equipment, lighting, heating appliances, broadband routers and mobile phones during power outages.
The aim is to provide added reassurance and resilience if supply is disrupted by storms or network maintenance.
Eligibility is determined through SSEN’s Priority Services register, which includes 1.2 million customers. Assessments of individual needs, alongside data on local power cut frequency, determine who receives a battery.
Since the scheme launched earlier this month, 94% of customers offered a unit have accepted.
The rollout follows a six-month pilot involving 28 medically dependent customers who had experienced recent outages. Feedback led to design improvements and a one-third increase in battery capacity.
Eliane Algaard, SSEN Distribution’s Services Director, said the scheme provides vital peace of mind for those most reliant on electricity at home.
Carers UK welcomed the initiative, urging other distribution network operators to adopt similar measures to strengthen support for vulnerable households.
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