Using shore power
Access to shore power is available to our long term mooring holders at a number of locations on the Scottish Canals network
Long-term shore power use
Access to shore power is available to our long term mooring holders at a number of locations on the Scottish Canals network – please contact your local Waterway Office for availability and to arrange connection.
When your vessel is first connected to the shore power please ensure that you and the Scottish Canals’ staff member both make a note of the date and meter reading.
Please do not allow others to use your electricity bollard as you will be liable for the units used and the daily standing charge. Depending on the style of bollard you are allocated, we recommend that you purchase your own padlock so that you can control access to the bollard. In these circumstances you must leave a spare key with the local Waterway Office so that mandatory safety checks to the bollard mechanisms can be carried out by our qualified electricians. If you are allocated a bollard with a PIN number please ensure you keep the number secure.
Long term power usage is billed by quarterly invoice – current prices are available from your local Waterway Office.
Short term, intermittent use of the 16A shore power, subject to availability, will be charged at £5.00 per day, payable daily to the local lock keeper.
Emergency call out
In the event of an emergency, out with normal operating hours, you should call the Scottish Canals Emergency Helpline on 0800 072 9900.
Please note that should we be called out to rectify a fault which is found to be as a result of your actions/inaction, Scottish Canals reserve the right to charge for any services provided. An example of this would be an out of hours call out to reset a shore power supply which has tripped due to being overloaded by multiple appliances.
Shore power safety information
The supply at each socket is 230 volts AC, 50Hz, AC, with a normal rating of 16 amps. Limited numbers of 32 amp supplies are available at certain locations – please see our staff for details. It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not exceed the bollard’s rating. For information on planning loads please download our Appliance and Usage Guide below. If you require further assistance please contact your local Waterway Office.
Only one boat can be connected to any one socket and the internal wiring of vessels must meet the appropriate standards.
Examples of some illegal connections spotted on the canals:
By law the flexible cable between the socket and your vessel must be in one continuous length, with no signs of damage, without joints or couplings or any other form of extension. The flexible cable must not be longer than 25 metres in length, should have three internal cores of a minimum of 2.5mm2 cross sectional area, and must not be wound around the body of the electricity bollard to take up the spare cabling. Please note that these are the requirements for a 16Amp supply and if you have any concerns our electrical team will be happy to answer any queries. Scottish Canals recommend flexible armoured cable or artic grade pvc sheathed cable. The cable should not trail into the water and should not create a tripping hazard at the mooring.
The connecting plug must be a standard marina plug, colour blue (technically described as BSEN60309-2, precision 6h). Adaptors with 3 pin domestic plugs are not permitted. For your safety, each socket is protected by a 30mA Residual Current Device (RCD). Periodically, the RCD will be tested by a Scottish Canals electrician to ensure it meets legal requirements. If the electrician has concerns about the RCD or your connection to the bollard they will disconnect the power immediately and ask a member of the office team to advise you by telephone. This disconnection will be without any liability to Scottish canals.
It is an offence to break into or tamper with any Scottish Canals electrical equipment.
Please remember
- See our local staff for initial access to the electricity bollard. We may need to take a meter reading.
- Ensure the electrical supply is switched OFF before inserting the plug into the socket.
- Ensure the supply is switched OFF before disconnecting your cable from the electricity bollard.
- Before leaving your mooring please ensure the bollard is locked (where applicable) and see our local staff for payment.