City centre investment powers the future
Posted by: electime 5th January 2026
A multi million pound investment has upgraded power supplies in the heart of St Albans, benefitting thousands of homes and businesses for the future.
UK Power Networks, which distributes electricity across the East, South East and London, has commissioned two new electricity transformers which are currently being installed in a city centre substation.
Transformers step down the power so it can be safely delivered to homes and businesses, offer scope for greater electrical capacity and will maintain reliable supplies. The transformers form part of UK Power Networks’ ongoing investment programme to modernise the local electricity grid.
The £4million investment means the Adelaide Road substation will more than double its electricity capacity for the expanding Hertfordshire city.
Project manager Scott Watkins said:” This investment project will deliver long-lasting benefits in the area. It will increase the capacity and the resilience of the network for 10,000 residents across St Albans, to accommodate a higher volume of low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar panels connecting to electricity networks. This will ensure a more reliable and efficient energy supply for our customers.”
The first transformer will be energized at the end of the year and the second one in early 2026. The electrical grid site which supplies the substation has also been upgraded at the same time with the installation of new switchgear fit for the future.
UK Power Networks owns and maintains the network of cables, substations and power lines that deliver electricity to approximately 20 million people across the East, London and South East of England, regardless of who sends your electricity bill. As the country’s biggest electricity distributor, it has invested £8.9 billion in its electricity networks since 2011.
