UK Power Networks Streetworks
UK Power Networks has a statutory duty to maintain a safe and reliable electricity distribution network. A key part of that duty involves investment in the network, which in many cases involves essential street works.
- What we do
- Our Streetworks Partners
- Work site safety
- Our Environmental obligations
- Representation at national level
UK Power Networks undertake street works for four primary reasons:
- Safety
- Security of supply
- To connect new customers / enhance existing customers supplies
- To divert apparatus to facilitate major transport infrastructure or urban regeneration projects.
UK Power Networks has 124,000km of underground cables and needs to carry out over 100,000 excavations per year. Our aim is to do this efficiently and with the minimum of disruption. To keep this to a minimum we are obliged to notify the Local Authorities and Highways Agencies prior to commencing works in roads or footways. They are responsible for co-ordinating work requests made to them by all Utilities and their own highway departments to keep disruption to a minimum.
This is one of the requirements under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and reinforced by the Traffic Management Act 2004.
The prime objective of the Traffic Management Act 2004 is to empower the Local Authorities and Highway Agency to manage the highways in a much more proactive way so as to improve the flow of foot and motorised traffic.
The Traffic Management Act 2004 extends the period of notification before work in the road or footway can be carried out, places restrictions on dates, times and location of apparatus installation and allows for the introduction of permits to work schemes run by local Authorities and Highway Agency. It is therefore very important that anyone requesting installation/connection of services within the road or footway from utility companies gives adequate notice of requirements. Failure to do so will result in the Local Authorities and Highway Agency not granting permission for the time requested.
To find out more about the Traffic Management Act and how it might affect your work with us download our fact sheet.