20 January 2007 00:00 UPDATE – Around 8,400 customers off in Central Networks area, compensation claims for exceptional circumstances considered – 1430hrs

Central Networks has around 8,400 customers without power in central England (including new, non-weather related faults) and has announced that it will consider claims for compensation over and above industry regulator guidelines¹ in exceptional circumstances.

Engineers have been working round the clock for the past three days to deal with the thousands of faults caused by Thursday’s gales, and have returned over 400,000 customers to power in that time.

And now the company has said that it will consider paying additional compensation, over and above Ofgem guidelines, in exceptional circumstances.

Jim Lightfoot, Director of Operations and Asset Management, said: “Clearly we’ll be paying out compensation to everyone who has been off for 48 hours or more as per our industry regulator’s guidelines.

“And I can reassure those customers that we’ll be writing to them – they don’t have to go through a claim process.

“But, over and above that, we will also consider hardship claims for compensation for exceptional circumstances.

“We’re talking about domestic customers who’ve suffered genuine hardship as a result of the loss of power.”

People who believe they fit those criteria should write to:

Customer Operations Manager
Central Networks
PO Box 7115
Castle Donington
DE74 2TU

Central Networks currently has 1,000 engineers in the field going from fault to fault in its region, which goes from the Lincolnshire coast to the Welsh Borders and down from the Peak District to the outskirts of Bristol.

Customers are advised to stay away from any fallen power cables that they might come across and to let Central Networks know locations. Central Networks can be contacted on 0800 056 8090 (East Midlands) or 0800 328 1111 (West Midlands).

Ends

Notes to editors
¹ = Power industry regulator Ofgem’s severe weather compensation rules for customers are now in operation. Customers who have been off power for 48 continuous hours will receive £25, with a further £25 for every continuous 12 hours thereafter, to a maximum of £200.
Central Networks will contact all customers who qualify for compensation directly.
* Central Networks is the electricity distribution company for central England, distributing electricity to 4.9m customers.

The media can call the below numbers for more information:
Jonathan Smith on 024 7618 3676
Emily Highmore on 024 7618 3680
ISDN available at 024 7642 5147
Out of hours, the media should ring 024 7642 4000 and ask to speak to the duty press officer