Compensation for Power Cuts

singingsister · 20 November 2008 at 3:01PM

Hi,

We had a power cut from 1am 19th November through to 9pm 19th November (a total of 15 hours).

I know we can claim through our house insurance for fridge/freezer food but what about the costs of us having to eat out as we had no power to cook anything? Well ok, although we are gas cooker, we couldn't have eaten anything in the fridge or freezer and would have had to have cooked and eaten in the dark! Also tonight, although we have power, we can't use any of the food in the fridge or freezer so are going to have to buy extra food to eat.

Anyone got any advice?

basmic · 20 November 2008 at 3:22PM

Phone and ask?

singingsister · 20 November 2008 at 3:50PM

LOL. Who? Can we claim from energy company or would it be through household insurance?

espresso · 20 November 2008 at 4:17PM

I believe that it has to be off for 18 hours continuous before you will get anything.

ex-energywatch_adviser · 20 November 2008 at 6:44PM

In accordance with the Electricity (Standards of Performance) Regulations 2005, these are the Guaranteed Standards which apply to electricity distributors (DNOs):

GS1

Respond to failure of distributors fuse
All DNOs to respond within 3 hours on weekdays (at least) 7 am to 7 pm, and within 4 hours at weekends between (at least 9 am to 5 pm)

£20

GS2*

Restoration of supply following a fault (including severe weather requirements)
Supplies must be restored within 18 hours, otherwise a payment must be made. Exemptions apply.

£50 domestic £100 non-domestic, plus £25 for each further 12 hours

GS2A*

Multiple Interruptions
Four or more separate interruptions each lasting 3 or more hours in any single year (1 April - 31 March)

£50**

GS3

Estimating charges for connection or alteration

5 working days for simple jobs and 15working days for most others (applies to groups of four properties or less)

£40

GS4*

Notice of planned interruption to supply
Consumer must be given at least 2 days notice (this payment also applies if supply is stopped on the wrong day)

£20 domestic consumers, £20 non-domestic

GS5

Investigation of voltage complaints
Offer to visit within 7 working days or substantive reply within 5 days

£20

GS8

Making and keeping appointments
DNOs must offer and keep a
morning (up to 1pm) or afternoon (from 12pm) appointment, or a timed appointment (2 hour band), if requested by the consumer

£20

GS9

Making payment for breaches of the Guaranteed Standards
GS payments to be made within 10 working days

£20

Consumers need to claim under these standards, whereas payments are automatic for the other standards.

** Please be aware that a claim for compensation where there have been multiple interruptions must be made within three months of the year ending.

Cardew · 20 November 2008 at 6:56PM

singingsister wrote: »

Hi,

We had a power cut from 1am 19th November through to 9pm 19th November (a total of 15 hours).

I know we can claim through our house insurance for fridge/freezer food but what about the costs of us having to eat out as we had no power to cook anything? Well ok, although we are gas cooker, we couldn't have eaten anything in the fridge or freezer and would have had to have cooked and eaten in the dark! Also tonight, although we have power, we can't use any of the food in the fridge or freezer so are going to have to buy extra food to eat.

Anyone got any advice?

Why can't you use food in fridge or freezer?

Joyful · 20 November 2008 at 11:38PM

Freezers keep food frozen for 24 hours if you do not open the doors. People often eat by candlelight. Even if you can apply for compensation people often cope with power cuts without the thought of compensation entering their heads.. The costs of a sandwich wouldn't cost much. Why would you expect someone for you to eat out?

PrinceGaz · 21 November 2008 at 1:12AM

singingsister wrote: »

Hi,

We had a power cut from 1am 19th November through to 9pm 19th November (a total of 15 hours).

I know we can claim through our house insurance for fridge/freezer food but what about the costs of us having to eat out as we had no power to cook anything? Well ok, although we are gas cooker, we couldn't have eaten anything in the fridge or freezer and would have had to have cooked and eaten in the dark! Also tonight, although we have power, we can't use any of the food in the fridge or freezer so are going to have to buy extra food to eat.

Anyone got any advice?

What's wrong with the food in the fridge/freezer? Unless you opened the door numerous times for long periods during the 15 hours the power was out, the food in the freezer won't have defrosted and its useful life won't have been noticeably effected. Similarly, items in the fridge (especially large liquid items like big bottles of milk or multiple cans of drink) will help keep the fridge itself quite cool for 15 hours, easily. Nothing in the fridge or freezer should have been adversely affected and need to be disposed of-- unless you repeatedly opened the fridge/freezer doors therefore letting warm air in each time (which the items in the fridge/freezer would then cool, raising the food temperature slightly each time).

You didn't have to eat out just because the electricity was off, even if you have an electric cooker only (and this doesn't even apply to you with a gas cooker). Many items in your fridge are intended or are safe to be eaten cold, and most fruit and veg also. Only meat, eggs and a few other products need to be cooked. It's not like you would have nothing to eat at home and be forced to eat out, even if you didn't have a gas cooker.

As for cooking and eating in the dark, do you not have any candles or battery powered torches in your home? If you have a laptop computer, it can probably provide three or so hours of useful light just by being turned on and displaying a mainly white screen.

There's a reason there is no compensation for power-cuts of less than 18 hours- and that is because there is nothing that really needs compensating for. At least not if the home-owner is sensible and makes a few easy changes to their lifestyle while the power is out. Instead of watching TV, listen to the radio for a change, with a candle (or torch as needed) to provide lighting. Have a cold meal, it won't kill you (unless perhaps you eat raw uncooked meat

).

Compensation is only really needed for powercuts of around 24 hours or more where there would be a very real likelihood of freezer food starting to defrost, and fridge temperatures to rise much higher than is ideal.

Pssst · 21 November 2008 at 1:15AM

Do you have any six mumf old/new born babehs in the house?

Pink_fluff · 21 November 2008 at 1:34AM

why would that make a difference about the op wanting compensation? mumf?!!

Pssst · 21 November 2008 at 2:01AM

Because up here in Manchestoh,we have a syndrome called six mumf old babeh syndrome whereby you claim to have a six mumf old babeh or a new born babeh becuase you assume that this is the passport to instant attnetion and possible riches. To quote a possible scenario...a young mothers heating breaks down. She rings council says.."I need me eatin fixed. I've got a six mumf old babeh."

Of course you;d need to be familar with Manc inner city accents and sub-culture to appreciate my point.

Compensation for Power Cuts

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