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The energy regulator has lifted maximum compensation payment levels available to households and businesses from storm-related power cuts.
Ofgem said they could now claim up to £2,000, from the current £700, following its review of the response to Storm Arwen by distribution network operators (DNOs) in 2021.
These firms are the six companies responsible for linking up properties to Britain’s electricity network.
In November 2021, one million homes were left without power – with thousands still waiting to be reconnected 10 days later – when heavy rain and winds, of almost 100mph at their peak, slammed into the country.
The watchdog later complained that some affected customers were left without electricity for an unacceptable amount of time, received poor communication from their network operator and ruled that Arwen-related compensation payments took too long.
Almost £30m was eventually paid out to customers by the DNOs, which can face multimillion-pound fines for failures to adhere to reconnection deadlines.
These are to be determined from now on by the impact of storms on the grid.
Just two categories of storm strengths, Category 1 and Category 2 – the latter being the most severe – are to be used.
“If the severe weather event is deemed to be a Category 1 storm, customers will be entitled to £80 compensation if their supply is not restored after 24 hours,” Ofgem explained.
“For Storm Category 2, consumers will be entitled to £80 compensation if their supply is not restored after 48 hours.
“For both storm categories customers are entitled to a further £40 for every 6 hours they are without power after the initial restoration period mentioned above (24 hours for category 1 and 48 for category 2).”
The updated regulations will allow for all compensation payments…
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