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| MPs quiz energy bosses over Christmas power cuts | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Bosses of UK energy distribution companies are being questioned by MPs about power cuts over the Christmas period. | |
| About 750,000 properties were left without power, many for several days, during the festive period following storms that battered the UK. | About 750,000 properties were left without power, many for several days, during the festive period following storms that battered the UK. |
| The Commons Energy Select Committee are set to ask how the companies responded and how they communicated to customers. | |
| They will also quiz the energy chiefs on the compensation paid to customers. | They will also quiz the energy chiefs on the compensation paid to customers. |
| 'Unsatisfactory' | 'Unsatisfactory' |
| Bosses from Scottish Power, UK Power Networks, Scottish and Southern Energy, Electricity North West, Western Power Distribution and the Energy Networks Association are appearing at the hearing. | |
| Following the storms, the chairman of the select committee, Tim Yeo, said that the performance of the distribution companies - which own the networks that carry electricity - had generally been "unsatisfactory". | Following the storms, the chairman of the select committee, Tim Yeo, said that the performance of the distribution companies - which own the networks that carry electricity - had generally been "unsatisfactory". |
| "Too many consumers were left without power for too long and without information about when it was going to be restored at a time when people are now really dependent on a continuous supply of electricity," he said. | "Too many consumers were left without power for too long and without information about when it was going to be restored at a time when people are now really dependent on a continuous supply of electricity," he said. |
| "To be left without power overnight sometimes for more than one or two days - that is simply unacceptable." | "To be left without power overnight sometimes for more than one or two days - that is simply unacceptable." |
| That view was echoed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said power companies needed to work "round the clock" to get people switched on. | That view was echoed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said power companies needed to work "round the clock" to get people switched on. |
| The power distribution companies have said engineers were working throughout the day and night during the Christmas period to restore electricity to those affected. | The power distribution companies have said engineers were working throughout the day and night during the Christmas period to restore electricity to those affected. |
| However, some have since said they will pay out higher than usual compensation to people who were without power for long periods and on Christmas Day. | However, some have since said they will pay out higher than usual compensation to people who were without power for long periods and on Christmas Day. |