Gusts of up to 90mph are expected to sweep the the north and the Scottish isles today.
The severe weather, which persisted over the weekend, has left more than 1,000 homes without power for a fourth day.
Engineers have been working in “treacherous” conditions to reconnect properties in rural Inverness-shire, Caithness, Sutherland and the Western Isles.
SHEPD said community liaison teams are visiting vulnerable customers, providing them with hot food and drinks and accommodating them in nearby hotels where possible.
A spokeperson for SHEPD added: “Welfare vans and catering facilities remain in those areas without power and the electricity distributor has hired local restaurants and food businesses to provide free hot food and drinks, in all serving over 20,000 meals and 30,000 hot and cold drinks.
“We would like to assure its customers that it is doing everything possible to reconnect them at the earliest opportunity and thanks them for their patience while work is carried out to restore their power.”
The frantic gales have also triggered travel disruption as major tranport providers have been forced to review today’s services.
Northlink and Calmac ferries had to cancel many sailings and Stagecoach North and ScotRail advised services would be subject to delay.
Skye Bridge is closed and Kessock Bridge and Dornoch Bridge are shut to high sided vehicles.
Schools across the Highlands and Islands have been closed.
Police Scotland have advised motorists to take take caution on the road and plan their journey ahead.
A spokesperson said: “It’s important that drivers remember wind is not just wind.
“Today’s weather has the potential to cause serious accidents and we urge that those travelling to so safely.”
Localised flooding alerts have been issued for Caithness and Sutherland, Argyll and Bute, Skye and Lochaber and Wester Ross.
The ferocious gales over the weekend were triggered by an extra-powerful jet stream in the Atlantic and plunging temperatures in the United States hitting warmer air from the south.
Met Office issued a yellow “be prepared” warning for most of the UK today with further high winds and rain forecast.