§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will take steps to assist the homes in Herefordshire that have been without electricity for more than five days. [79981]
§ Mr. WilsonI understand that all those who were cut off from electricity supply as a result of the storms have now been re-connected. Customers who have been cut off may apply to their suppliers for compensation.
Initially, it will be for the companies themselves to decide whether compensation should be offered. However, consumers can challenge non-payment through Energywatch and Ofgem. In the determination of such disputes, Ofgem would apply three tests:
whether severe weather occurred and whether it resulted in the interruption of the customers' supply;whether the company took reasonable steps to prevent the severe weather causing an interruption to the customer's supply; andwhether the restoration process undertaken by the company was reasonable given the circumstances.