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Energy firms let down customers over electricity blackouts, says minister Energy firms let down customers over electricity blackouts, says minister
(about 3 hours later)
The environment secretary has pressed energy firms to prevent staff from taking new year holidays as hundreds of storm-hit homes were finally returned to power overnight on Monday. The environment secretary has pressed energy firms to prevent staff from taking new year holidays as a number of storm-hit homes faced another day without power.
Owen Paterson said some energy companies had let down customers with their handling of electricity blackouts that have hit thousands of homes since Christmas Eve. Owen Paterson said some energy companies had let down customers with their handling of electricity blackouts that have hit thousands of homes since Christmas Eve.
Speaking as the Energy Networks Association (ENA) said all homes had been reconnected, Paterson told ITV's Daybreak programme: "I think some of them [energy companies] definitely let their customers down, and I'm pleased to hear they are going to pay some compensation to those who are out of power. The Energy Networks Association (ENA) claimed on Sunday night that all homes had been reconnected, but on Monday the company confirmed that at least four storm-damaged properties were still without power in Kent.
As the remaining homes faced yet another day without electricity, Paterson told ITV's Daybreak programme: "I think some of them [energy companies] definitely let their customers down, and I'm pleased to hear they are going to pay some compensation to those who are out of power.
"We were told yesterday that the final 130 houses [without power] would all be back on by last night and I'll have my daily meeting at nine when I hope to hear that has been achieved. Some of the companies have performed, some have not, and I think they have been penalised by the reaction of their customers. It's up to them to compensate their customers."We were told yesterday that the final 130 houses [without power] would all be back on by last night and I'll have my daily meeting at nine when I hope to hear that has been achieved. Some of the companies have performed, some have not, and I think they have been penalised by the reaction of their customers. It's up to them to compensate their customers.
"We've had two Cobra [the government's emergency committee] meetings over the last couple of days and we've made it very clear that we expect them to take proper measures – not to let staff go away on holiday over the new year period and to be properly prepared for this week.""We've had two Cobra [the government's emergency committee] meetings over the last couple of days and we've made it very clear that we expect them to take proper measures – not to let staff go away on holiday over the new year period and to be properly prepared for this week."
Paterson said that emergency financial help – known as the Bellwin fund – will be made available to councils hit by floods and power cuts. "It's dreadful for all those involved but we do give credit to those in the Environment Agency who worked throughout that period and who are working as we speak now," he said.Paterson said that emergency financial help – known as the Bellwin fund – will be made available to councils hit by floods and power cuts. "It's dreadful for all those involved but we do give credit to those in the Environment Agency who worked throughout that period and who are working as we speak now," he said.
"We've had Cobra meetings co-ordinating the other government departments, and local government has been told at every level that they must make sure they have adequate staff on over the new year period.""We've had Cobra meetings co-ordinating the other government departments, and local government has been told at every level that they must make sure they have adequate staff on over the new year period."
On Monday morning, the Met office issued six yellow warnings – meaning there is a likelihood of travel disruption – due to heavy rain and gales of up to 80mph across the UK.On Monday morning, the Met office issued six yellow warnings – meaning there is a likelihood of travel disruption – due to heavy rain and gales of up to 80mph across the UK.
More than 150,000 homes, most in south-east England, were left without electricity at the height of the storms. At least 600 homes were still without power on Sunday morning, but the ENA said by 10.30pm engineers had reconnected all homes.More than 150,000 homes, most in south-east England, were left without electricity at the height of the storms. At least 600 homes were still without power on Sunday morning, but the ENA said by 10.30pm engineers had reconnected all homes.
But Alexandr Prisyazhnyuk, 41, was still without power on Monday morning after high winds caused trees to fall on the cables connecting his home three miles north of Canterbury.
Prisyazhnyuk said he was "waiting for a miracle" and felt ignored after he saw reports that all homes had been reconnected. "I call UK Power every two hours and haven't had any response from them," he said.
A spokesman for UK Power said it would look into the complaint. He added that two properties had been reconnected on Monday morning and that, by midday, a further two remained without power.
A spokesman for the ENA said repairs to the network had been completed but there was damage to four individual properties that were still without electricity on Monday morning.
In Kent, Power Networks, sent catering vans over the weekend to one of the worst affected villages, Yalding, where on Friday the prime minister, David Cameron, was greeted with angry complaints that the village had been abandoned, with many houses both flooded and without power. The firm also pledged to boost compensation payments from £27, to £75 for anyone who had been without power for more than 48 hours including Christmas Day – with larger payments for those cut off for longer than 60 hours.In Kent, Power Networks, sent catering vans over the weekend to one of the worst affected villages, Yalding, where on Friday the prime minister, David Cameron, was greeted with angry complaints that the village had been abandoned, with many houses both flooded and without power. The firm also pledged to boost compensation payments from £27, to £75 for anyone who had been without power for more than 48 hours including Christmas Day – with larger payments for those cut off for longer than 60 hours.
One power company boss, Basil Scarsella, the chief executive of UK Power Networks, which owns electricity lines and cables in the south-east, admitted to the Mail on Sunday: "We could not have avoided the damage caused by the storm, but we could have responded to it better."One power company boss, Basil Scarsella, the chief executive of UK Power Networks, which owns electricity lines and cables in the south-east, admitted to the Mail on Sunday: "We could not have avoided the damage caused by the storm, but we could have responded to it better."
At least 1,300 properties have been flooded during the recent storms in England, the Environment Agency (EA) said.At least 1,300 properties have been flooded during the recent storms in England, the Environment Agency (EA) said.
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