Power cut hits Lerwick along with south and west Mainland

A fault in the power lines between Sullom Voe and Lerwick caused a brief power cut across Shetland today.

The problem, which affected homes in Lerwick and the south and west Mainland, occurred at 12.45pm and lasted approximately 15 minutes until generators at the Lerwick power station were brought into use.

A spokesman for Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said: “Scottish Hydro Electric power distribution would like to apologise to customers in the Lerwick, south and west Mainland areas for the interruption to their supplies this lunchtime.

“The electricity network is designed to be sensitive as well as robust, and if it detects a fault anywhere on the line, it will disconnect itself for a short period.”

Engineers were able to reinstate the connection in less than half an hour.