Warrington unlooping trial
We're taking a proactive approach to remove houses from a 'looped service’, giving our customers involved with the scheme their own service cable to improve the overall electrical resilience and performance of the network and future proofing it. This ensures properties are better equipped for future energy demands for electric car chargers, solar panels or heat pumps.
Why the work is taking place?
We're proactivley making a £3.6m investment. The work is essential for upgrading the electricity network in the local area to make sure we, as the region's power network operator, deliver the expected growth in electricity demand to support the drive towards net-zero.
Trial timeline
Phase one
Phase one of unlooping in Warrington took place between February 2025 - September 2025. 539 properties were unlooped in total.
Phase two
Phase two of unlooping in Warrington commenced in October 2025 and will run until May 2026. 394 properties will be unlooped as part of this phase.
Phase three
Details of phase three of unlooping in Warrington are yet to be finalised and we will update as soon as confirmed.
What will the work help support?
These works will help facilitate the installation of Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs) such as heat pumps, EV chargers for electric vehicle charging, smart meter installation and solar PV, working with our customers to make the move to a low carbon future. Low carbon homes produce, and often store their own energy, resulting in lower carbon emissions and lower bills. Homes that have already chosen to go low, are still able to keep warm, access hot water and power electrical items, but with a lower carbon footprint.
What will SP Electricity North West be doing?
We're completing the removal of what we class as a ‘looped service’, giving our customers involved with the scheme their own dedicated service cable. To install the new service cable from the mains to the meter, we'll advise our customers that we may need to a dig in their driveway or front garden. We will of course, reinstate this when the work is finished. Sometimes the work can be more complex if there are many looped services. Each job is bespoke, so letting us know about your requirements upfront helps us to plan and deliver the project more efficiently.
*Currently the service to ‘unloop’ our customers is free of charge but this could change in future*
What is a looped service?
Most modern properties will have a single underground service cable which provides a direct electricity connection to our network. There are however, many older properties connected historically that share a single service, we call this a ‘looped service’.
While this is a perfectly acceptable arrangement for typical domestic electrical demand, a further increase in demand due to the connection of low carbon technologies like electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps may result in the need to replace the looped service with a direct supply.
Looped service supplies are usually found in domestic properties, often in terraced or semi-detached houses. In most cases, a single direct service cable enters the first property in a row of terraces or semi-detached premises and then branches off from a mains underground cable or overhead conductor.
We aim to deliver key communication throughout the duration of work and want to engage with customers to help support the local community on minimising the impact of this work, keeping customers updated on the development of the programme as it progresses.
