DNO Case Study: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
The Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is a UK energy company that manages two distribution networks and one transmission network. They manage two of the fourteen distribution licenses in Great Britain. The SSEN’s networks carry electricity to over 3.7 million homes and businesses north of the Central Belt of Scotland and Central Southern England. They operate in the United Kingdom with head offices in Perth, Scotland and Reading, England.
SSEN Cable Specification
SSEN has developed its own specifications for low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) cables for its distribution network. Their MV specification outlines the requirements for 11kV 3-Core, 11kV Single Core/Triplex and 33kV Single Core Polymeric Cables installed in the SSEN Distribution system. Only approved 11kV and 33kV Cables are installed on the SSEN System. Should unapproved 11kV or 33kV Cables be offered as part of a project-specific tender, the applicant shall request a technical assessment from the Equipment Specification Engineer, as per PR-NET-ENG-001. SSEN provide a list of approved 11kV and 33kV Polymeric Cables which is detailed in the Distribution Cable and Associated Equipment catalogue, document number TG-NET-CAB-410.
SSEN values BASEC approval
SSEN recognises the value of BASEC product approval for LV and MV cables and manufacturers holding the BASEC quality mark. This gives SSEN confidence that the cable is compliant to BS7870 and SP-NET-CAB-421. Furthermore, BASEC approval ensures that the cable supplied to SSEN will be of acceptable quality and SSEN can choose to review any factory audits and cable sample testing that BASEC have carried out on behalf of the cable manufacturer approval.
SSEN Cable Policy Engineer, Mr Atif Haq, said, “SSEN values the services that BASEC offer in evaluating LV and MV cables as per BS 7870, SP-NET-CAB-421 and SP-NET-CAB-422. The BASEC product approval gives peace of mind to SSEN through its continuous factory audits and rigorous cable testing which ensures the level of quality is maintained”.
Providing peace of mind
Gaining BASEC product approval provides stakeholders within the supply chain with peace of mind that the cable quality has been verified by a specialist third party approval. As part of the process for approval, samples are selected independently by an expert and tested within an external laboratory, separate to the manufacturer’s facilities. Product approval permits the use of the BASEC mark to be printed on the cable as a visual statement of compliance.
To view details of BASEC approved cable products please visit www.basec.org.uk where you can search by standard and cable manufacturer.