SCOTTISH Power will invest £10 million to boost power supplies across mid Cheshire.

The power giant will install 3km of new 33,000 volt cable along School Lane and into Chester Road in Hartford.

The works is scheduled to start from the end of March for a period of 16 weeks.

In addition, the energy giant will also install around 1km of new 33,000 volt cable along New Road, under the River Weaver and into High Street in Winsford.

This work is also scheduled to start in March but for a shorter duration of six weeks.

Scottish Power says the investment programme will facilitate future growth and demand needs across Winsford, Northwich and the surrounding areas, in addition to providing an increased resilience of supply to the existing 70,000 of homes and businesses.

The current equipment has remained in place for more than half a century.

Scottish Power says it is now scheduled to be replaced to ‘ensure this high standard of service is maintained’.

SP Energy Networks, which is part of the Scottish Power Group, are co-ordinating these activities with Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Mark Sobczak, head of 132kV projects at SP Energy Networks, said: “This is the most significant reinforcement in mid-Cheshire for more than 50 years, and our work will ensure that the grid is as reliable as possible for decades as well as supporting growth and the future demands of the thousands of homes and businesses.”

The final stage of the programme is the installation of a new grid transformer at Scottish Power’s existing substation site in Winsford.

This will start in the summer of 2017 and continue through to 2018.

Cllr Karen Shore, CWAC cabinet member for environment said: “This investment is very welcome to ensure the future electricity needs across Winsford, Northwich and the surrounding area.

"Our Highways team are discussing these works with SP Energy Networks to ensure we minimise the disruption for residents and businesses during the scheme.”

The news comes after Scottish Power revealed earlier this month that it is planning a 7.8 per cent rise in dual fuel prices, which will come into effect on standard variable tariffs from March 31.

The changes will see a third of its customers hit on average with a 10.8 per cent price increase in electricity and a 4.7 per cent rise in gas, resulting in an average rise of £86.

Scottish Power was the third of the big six energy suppliers to announce a price hike and blamed increasing wholesale energy prices for the rise.

Npower announced a rise of 9.8 per cent while EDF announced a 1.2 per cent hike.

British Gas, the UK’s biggest energy supplier, announced that it would freeze prices until August.