§ Mr. HurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that compensation is paid by the electricity supply companies following the power cuts on and after 27 October 2002. [80475]
§ Mr. WilsonI would urge all customers who feel that their supplier has not fulfilled its responsibility to put in a claim for compensation (which should be made within one month of supply being restored).
Compensation is a matter for the regulator's office, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) and I know that it is watching the situation closely.
Compensation is not automatic in the case of storms. Initially, under the guaranteed standards of performance, it is for network operators to decide whether to offer compensation or to invoke an exemption for severe weather.
Customers can challenge non-payment of compensation through the statutory consumer watchdog, Energywatch, which will liaise with Ofgem.
In the final instance, after all other routes have been explored, Ofgem can make a determination.
I welcome the fact that once company has recognised that customers do have rights and has announced that it will be paying compensation in certain circumstances.
§ Mr. HurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes in Essex were without power from 27 October 2002 for(a) 24 hours, (b) 36 hours, (c) 48 hours, (d) three days, (e) four days and (f) more than four days. [80476]
§ Mr. WilsonI have been advised by LE Group that the numbers of customers without electricity in Essex arising from the storm on 27 October 2002 were as follows:
Period without electricity Number of Customers (b) up to 36 hours 15,715 (c) up to 48 hours 9,854 (d) up to 3 days (72 hours) 5,976 (e) up to 4 days (96 hours) 2,398 (f) more than 4 days 1,856 With regard to your question (a), LE Group have advised me that they do not have an accurate figure for the number of customers without electricity in Essex 111W after the first 24 hours. However they have confirmed that 159,791 customers in Essex were restored in the first 24 hours after the storm.
§ Mr. HurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with electricity suppliers since 27 October 2002. [80477]
§ Mr. WilsonThe Department has regular discussions with electricity suppliers. However, following the storms of 27 October, I commissioned British Power International (BPI) to carry out an independent review of the extent to which distribution networks were able to withstand severe weather, and how the distribution licence holders handled the emergency caused by the recent storms. The electricity network operators who are to be reviewed are
London Electricity Group, including 24 seven (covering the Eastern, London and Seeboard distribution areas);Scottish and Southern Energy (in respect of the Southern area);Western Power Distribution (covering the south-west and South Wales);Powergen (covering the east midlands);Aquila (covering the west midlands);Scottish Power (in respect of the MANWEB area); andUnited Utilities (which manages the network in the north-west).The review has already started and involves detailed questions to each of the companies. Initial findings will be published by the end of December.