Victims of storm face 5 more days without electricity
FAMILIES were warned they faced another five days without electricity yesterday as the energy watchdog launched an ‘urgent’ review into the response by power firms to the Storm Arwen chaos.
About 100 Army personnel arrived in the North East yesterday morning, but there was mounting anger that it took a week for the extra support to turn up.
Engineers have been working around the clock to restore power to 10,500 homes across the UK. And to make matters worse, those living on higher ground could see more snow this weekend.
Jonathan Brearley, energy regulator Ofgem’s chief executive, said: ‘We are launching a review into how the storm has been handled.
‘We have strict rules on how network companies need to operate in these circumstances and we will take action if needed.’
Northern Powergrid said yesterday that 6,000 customers in the North-East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire were still cut off. It estimates some rural homes will not get supplies restored until Wednesday next week, while for others there is ‘no estimated date’.
Servicemen and women from the Royal Lancers set up base in St John’s Chapel in Weardale and began distributing food, fuel and generators yesterday.
Council staff also prepared emergency care boxes to be sent out.
Stewart Sexton, 57, said he and his partner have been without heating, hot water, lighting and communication near Alnwick, Northumberland, since the storm arrived last Friday evening.
‘No one gives a toss about us... first contact from Northern Powergrid was day six [Thursday],’ he said.
About 1,700 homes in north-west England were also waiting for power to return yesterday. Meanwhile, Ofgem has lifted a £700 cap on compensation.