Thousands across UK facing eighth day without power following Storm Arwen

In Scotland on Friday, power was restored to 900 homes, with engineers hoping to reconnect 1100 of the remaining 1600 between then and Saturday.

Thousands across UK facing eighth day without power following Storm Arwen STV News

Thousands of people across the UK are facing an eighth day without power following the damage caused by Storm Arwen.

Figures from industry body Energy Networks Association (ENA) indicated that around 9200 homes were still without power as of Friday evening.

It comes as the Met Office warns of freezing temperatures, including parts of Scotland expected to see lows of 1C (34F) along with sleet and rain over the next 24 hours.

In Scotland on Friday, power was restored to 900 homes, with engineers hoping to reconnect 1100 of the remaining 1600 between then and Saturday.

The army was also deployed to help residents in the north-east who have been without power for a week since the storm caused “catastrophic damage” to the electricity network.

Around 130 troops have been sent to carry out door-to-door checks and offer welfare support.

The long delays have prompted energy regulator Ofgem to warn it will take enforcement action against network companies which failed to restore power to customers quickly enough following the storm.

It has also agreed with firms to lift the £700 cap on compensation which could be given to customers.

The change will allow those affected to claim £70 for each 12-hour period they are left without power, after an initial £70 for the first 48 hours.

Chief executive Jonathan Brearley told the BBC Radio 4 programme: “We are deeply concerned about customers who for over a week have been without power.

“We want to establish the facts and make sure we understand what has happened, whether the network companies have met their obligations. If they haven’t, we will take enforcement action.

“We have clear expectations of how fast they should get people back on the system.

“We do recognise the challenging circumstances those companies are in. But what we expect from the network companies is to be relentless in connecting people, but also to be putting support in place.”

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