SSE (LON:SSE) edges higher as new sustainability chief starts; SSEN signs housing deals and completes Southampton upgrade

Published: 5 November 2025

At a glance

Share price today: SSE closed fractionally higher around 1,889p (+0.05%), with intraday range 1,859.45p–1,896.50p and volume ~3.62m. ^[1]
Leadership:Rhian Kelly officially joins SSE as Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), moving from National Grid. ^[2]
Networks (Distribution):£8m Southampton upgrade completed, adding 47.8 MVA of capacity and benefiting 7,500+ customers. ^[3]
Networks (Transmission): First agreements inked toward 1,000 new homes in northern Scotland; separate £3.4m SSEN Transmission investment to upgrade Arnish Point road on Lewis. ^[4]
What’s next:Half‑year results (H1 FY26) due 12 November 2025 at 07:00 GMT. ^[5]

SSE share price today

SSE shares finished essentially flat on Wednesday, closing near 1,889p after a tight session that saw the FTSE‑100 utility trade between 1,859.45p and 1,896.50p. Turnover was ~3.62 million shares, with the previous close at 1,888p. The modest uptick keeps the stock within touching distance of its 52‑week high. ^[6]

Leadership: Rhian Kelly starts as Chief Sustainability Officer

SSE confirmed Rhian Kelly has joined this week as CSO, succeeding long‑serving sustainability lead Rachel McEwen. Kelly arrives from a comparable role at National Grid and is expected to help drive SSE’s net‑zero strategy across networks, renewables and flexible power. In the announcement, Kelly called the clean‑energy transition a “huge opportunity,” while CEO Martin Pibworth said new perspectives would help address mid‑2020s sustainability challenges. ^[7]

Why it matters for investors: The CSO role increasingly shapes capital allocation, disclosures and project prioritisation. With half‑year results due next week, investors will look for how SSE links project delivery, decarbonisation metrics and returns under its NZAP+ investment plan. ^[8]

Grid build‑out: two notable SSEN updates today

1) Southampton upgrade completed (£8m)

SSEN Distribution completed an £8 million programme in the North Baddesley area of Southampton. The works add 47.8 MVA of capacity, include ~7 km of undergrounding and are designed to support low‑carbon tech adoption (EVs, heat pumps and rooftop solar). More than 7,500 customers now benefit from a strengthened and more resilient local network. ^[9]

2) Transmission housing agreements + Arnish Point road upgrade

SSEN Transmission signed the first major agreements in its pledge to support 1,000 homes across northern Scotland—initial projects in Stornoway (Western Isles) and Brechin (Angus)—with homes slated to serve project workers first and then transition to affordable/social housing for local communities by end‑2027. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes marked the announcement during a visit to Lewis. ^[10]

Separately, SSEN Transmission will invest £3.4 million toward upgrading the 3.3 km Arnish Moor Road leading to Arnish Point and the Stornoway Deep Water Terminal, supporting offshore‑wind supply chain growth around the planned Lewis Hub. ^[11]

Why it matters: These items underscore SSE’s pivot toward regulated networks as a driver of medium‑term earnings and its strategy to de‑risk delivery by investing in enabling infrastructure and local capacity. ^[12]

Analyst and calendar notes

Upcoming catalyst: SSE will report H1 FY26 results on 12 November 2025 (webcast at 08:00 GMT). The company entered a closed period on 2 October and flagged capex of ~£1.5bn for the half year. ^[13]
Street commentary today: MarketBeat reported J.P. Morgan reiterated Overweight with a 2,425p target price (Barclays and Jefferies also positive in recent weeks). Note this is secondary reporting rather than a primary broker note. ^[14]

How today’s news ties to the investment case

SSE’s 2025 updates signalled steady delivery in networks and a recalibration of investment pacing in large renewables, while maintaining long‑term EPS ambitions. In April, the company trimmed its FY25 EPS range but reiterated multi‑year targets tied to net‑zero infrastructure. Today’s network‑heavy flow—leadership in sustainability, a completed distribution upgrade, and early housing/transport infrastructure commitments around transmission projects—fits that narrative ahead of next week’s results. ^[15]

Key data box (5 Nov 2025)

Ticker: LON:SSE
Close: ~1,889p (+0.05%)
Day range:1,859.45p–1,896.50p
Prev. close:1,888p
Volume:~3.62m
Market cap (HL):~£20.8bn
FY25 final dividend (paid Sep 2025):43.0p
Next event:H1 FY26 results — 12 Nov 2025
^[16]

What to watch next

H1 prints and guidance: Look for updated delivery milestones across SSEN projects and renewables timing, plus any refinements to capex, debt and hybrid capital levels. ^[17]
Sustainability road‑map under new CSO: Expect near‑term focus on disclosures and project‑level social value (e.g., housing and local infrastructure around transmission corridors). ^[18]
Policy interface: Progress on UK grid reform and planning (which influence onshore transmission timetables and returns) remains a sensitivity for FY26‑27 delivery. (Context from prior coverage.) ^[19]

Sources used for today’s roundup (5 Nov 2025)

Share price & trading stats: Hargreaves Lansdown SSE page (prices as at close 5 Nov 2025). ^[20]
Investor calendar: SSE Investor Relations — Half‑year results 12 Nov 2025. ^[21]
Leadership: SSE news post — “New Chief Sustainability Officer” (Rhian Kelly). ^[22]
Distribution upgrade: SSE news post — “SSEN boosts Southampton’s low‑carbon goals…” (project details and capacity figures). ^[23]
Transmission housing agreements: SSE news post — “SSEN Transmission signs first major agreements…” (Stornoway & Brechin). ^[24]
Arnish Point road upgrade: SSEN Transmission news — “Funds multi‑million‑pound Arnish Point road upgrade…” (project scope and funding). ^[25]
Street chatter: MarketBeat item on J.P. Morgan reiteration and target price. ^[26]