A £4 million scheme to reinforce electricity supplies to thousands of customers between Brimsdown and South Mimms in North London is now underway.

EDF Energy Networks is refurbishing 17km of overhead lines during the next couple of months, as well as re-painting all the pylons which support the lines and installing new associated equipment. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

The overhead lines run through areas which include Dyrham Park, Crews Hill and Enfield and to the south of Potters Bar.

Project manager Chris Ling said: "It is our priority to make sure that we provide a reliable electricity supply for our customers and this means regularly investing in our networks.

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"This refurbishment programme will maintain the equipment’s structural integrity and therefore ensure the reliability of supplies for the future.

"This year alone we are spending £459 million improving our networks, for customers across our distribution areas in the East, South East and London."

As the overhead lines cross a number of major roads including the A1, M25 and A10, plus several rail lines and residential areas, the EDF Energy Networks team has planned carefully to ensure there is as little disruption as possible during the improvement programme which is being carried out by its contractors, Babcocks.

Roads need to be protected where work is being carried out and where possible a system called Skysafe will be used.

Skysafe is an alternative method to using netted scaffold to carry out work across roads. It is a suspended wire system which is held between pylons, ensuring that engineers can work in safety without causing disruption to motorists

Where Skysafe cannot be used, the netted scaffold will be set up but the work will be carried out during the night to minimise any disruption.

(CD/GK)