WORK has been completed on a �5 million investment in the electricity network serving the rural areas of north Essex.

The project by UK Power Networks has seen equipment upgraded to provide a more secure power supply to thousands of customers in the area.

High voltage transformers have been replaced with new units at a large substation in the north of Thaxted. Circuit breakers which protect the overhead lines and electrical circuits which branch out from the substation serving areas including Dunmow and Saffron Walden have also been replaced.

Also new technology means it’s been possible to replace this large outdoor electrical equipment with smaller new equipment, securely housed and protected from the elements in purpose-built buildings on the existing site.

Senior project manager Martin Bull said: “UK Power Networks is constantly investing in the networks across our distribution area to ensure the best possible service to our customers.

“This new equipment will provide a more secure supply while also giving us more flexibility to restore electricity supplies as quickly as we can should there be a power interruption.

The work took 20 months to complete and is part of �360million of improvements being made by UK Power Networks across its distribution area this year.