Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has launched a pilot to upgrade domestic electricity connections, aiming to help households adopt cost-saving, low-carbon technologies more easily.

The programme will initially deliver improvements for hundreds of customers as part of SSEN's broader effort to support installations of heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs) and air conditioning units.

Many homes still operate on a 'looped' supply, a setup commonly installed in the second half of the 20th century to reduce costs at a time of lower electricity demand. In simple terms, the service cable from the street is shared with a neighbouring property, which can limit capacity for modern technologies and therefore needs upgrading in some cases.

SSEN's data-led assessments suggest around 500,000 homes (16%) in its licence areas have looped supplies. With interest rising in air conditioning, EVs, solar and heat pumps, the company says it is responding to growing requests to remove looped connections in a timely way.

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Under the initial pilot, up to 1,200 homeowners will be offered an 'unlooping' upgrade. Customers have been selected based on data indicating a higher likelihood of looped supplies and the nature of the works required. Households in Swindon, Southampton, Lee-on-Solent and Ash in Surrey are being approached first, with letters already issued and follow-up in-person visits under way.

Participants in the pilot will not be charged at the point of delivery for these works, and appropriate reinstatement will be provided where more significant excavation is needed. SSEN says the activity will also give its engineers valuable practical insights into how historic connections were installed and how best to upgrade them efficiently.

Andy Wainwright, SSEN Distribution's Whole Systems Manager and lead for the programme that's improving connections to homes, said: "The improvement of domestic electricity connections to support the adoption of cost-effective, efficient technologies is a big task facing all distribution network operators in the coming years, and it's one we're working hard to deliver on for our customers.

"We're aware that many households won't even know they have a connection which needs improving, so as well as delivering these upgraded connections, we're working hard to inform our customers if they might be among those who need to consider these improvements in the years to come.

"While the practicality of delivering these benefits will mean a degree of short-term upheaval for customers, the long-term benefits of a connection that support all the benefits EVs, heat pumps – some of which of course can also function as air conditioning units during hotter spells – and solar panels can bring will be felt as soon as such technologies are able to be installed and long into the future.

"So, if we write to you with an offer to have your connection unlooped, please give this some consideration, and come back to us if you have any questions. Our team of experts will be happy to explain the process and how it'll benefit you."