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Most storm-hit homes 'to get power back on Sunday' Most storm-hit homes 'to get power back on Sunday'
(about 2 hours later)
Most UK properties still cut off from electricity following the Christmas storms will be reconnected by the end of Sunday, power firms have said.Most UK properties still cut off from electricity following the Christmas storms will be reconnected by the end of Sunday, power firms have said.
The number of properties without power has now fallen to about 600, the Energy Networks Association said. Electricity North West in Cumbria, UK Power Networks in south-east England and Scottish Power Networks in Wales said engineers were working to restore power to some 600 remaining customers.
Electricity North West in Cumbria, UK Power Networks in south-east England and Scottish Power Networks in Wales said almost all were being reconnected. Earlier, the head of UK Power Networks said the firm "could have done more".
It comes as forecasters warn of a fresh bout of heavy rain and wind on Monday.It comes as forecasters warn of a fresh bout of heavy rain and wind on Monday.
The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for rain, meaning be aware, for south-west England, Wales and parts of central and south-west Scotland. The Met Office has issued a yellow alert - meaning "be aware" - for rain for south-west England, Wales and parts of central and south-west Scotland.
"With ground already saturated over much of this region, the public should be aware of the risk of further local flooding," the Met Office said."With ground already saturated over much of this region, the public should be aware of the risk of further local flooding," the Met Office said.
It also has yellow alerts for strong wind in place for Wales, south-west England, London and the South East - with gales of up to 80mph expected in parts.It also has yellow alerts for strong wind in place for Wales, south-west England, London and the South East - with gales of up to 80mph expected in parts.
And dangerous ice patches could form in the South West tonight as temperatures drop to below freezing, it warned.
Prime Minister David Cameron has urged councils to draw up "robust plans in case of bad weather and flooding over New Year".Prime Minister David Cameron has urged councils to draw up "robust plans in case of bad weather and flooding over New Year".
The Energy Networks Association, which represents the operators of power networks, tweeted that engineers had restored power to all but 600 properties who had lost electricity during the storm. The Energy Networks Association, which represents the operators of power networks, tweeted on Sunday that engineers had restored power to all but 600 properties who had lost electricity during the storm.
UK Power Networks said in a statement that 169 customers in Kent were still without power, along with 112 in Sussex and 22 in Surrey.UK Power Networks said in a statement that 169 customers in Kent were still without power, along with 112 in Sussex and 22 in Surrey.
But it added: "We believe it will take until the end of today to restore power supplies to the final single premises affected in these areas, though progress is being made all the time and we believe many will be on sooner."But it added: "We believe it will take until the end of today to restore power supplies to the final single premises affected in these areas, though progress is being made all the time and we believe many will be on sooner."
However, chief executive Basil Scarsella told the Mail on Sunday: "We could and should have done more.
"It is taking us longer than normal to restore power supplies... The difficulty we had was because it was a festive period - too many of our staff were away which meant we had depleted resources."
Mr Scarsella said he was "considering restricting employees' holiday in future".
But he added hundreds of employees had given up their festive breaks to help, and "once we had an idea of how bad it was we were able to mobilise as many engineers and office staff as possible".
Scottish Power Networks said it hoped to restore power to about 100 remaining storm-hit properties in north Wales on Sunday.Scottish Power Networks said it hoped to restore power to about 100 remaining storm-hit properties in north Wales on Sunday.
And Electricity North West said its last 70 customers in Cumbria would be reconnected.And Electricity North West said its last 70 customers in Cumbria would be reconnected.
Southern Electric meanwhile said on Sunday that teams had already restored electricity to all customers affected by the Christmas storms.Southern Electric meanwhile said on Sunday that teams had already restored electricity to all customers affected by the Christmas storms.
In a statement, watchdog Ofgem stressed that energy companies were obliged to get power back on as soon as possible.
It said there were also "well established industry processes in place in event of severe weather and loss of supplies to share engineering resources and expertise across the network to help with supply restoration in the areas affected.
"The priority for the energy companies is to reconnect remaining customers and we are monitoring progress with this. In due course it will also be necessary to review events and ensure any further lessons that need to be are learnt," it said.