Power cut compensation

RichW_2

Hi.

My electricity has now been off for just over 21 hours and they are predicting it will be at least 24 hours. Some surrounding areas have been put on a 3 hour rotation, but not in my area.

They are claiming that vandalism is the reason for this, and there is no bad weather to affect it.

I question is what compensation can I realistically claim from my energy 'supplier' for this? I heard somewhere that you are entitled to something after 18 hours but would these circumstances qualify for this? And does it have to be an uninterrupted 18 hour period (as it is for me) or can you total up the time you are without power?

Thanks

clearing_out_my_pockets

The EDF website says that if they are unable to access the cables to make repairs then compensation is not payable. The cables were on fire on a bridge. The fire had to be put out (which took several hours) and the bridge had to be made safe before EDF could even attempt to fix it. There's no harm in trying but for once, they are actually doing all they can.

Don't forget to do a claim for freezer contents.

RichW_2

clearing_out_my_pockets wrote: »

The EDF website says that if they are unable to access the cables to make repairs then compensation is not payable. The cables were on fire on a bridge. The fire had to be put out (which took several hours) and the bridge had to be made safe before EDF could even attempt to fix it. There's no harm in trying but for once, they are actually doing all they can.

Don't forget to do a claim for freezer contents.

Freezer contents is a contents insurance issue isn't it though? Not the power company

I do believe they are doing all they can but ultimately its their responsibility to provide a service, which they are not providing.
I know its harsh but at the end of the day if their equipment breaks because of a fault then they have not maintained it well enough, and if the equipment breaks because of vandalism then they haven't secured it well enough.

Cardew

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=941915

adprob

I do believe they are doing all they can but ultimately its their responsibility to provide a service, which they are not providing.
I know its harsh but at the end of the day if their equipment breaks because of a fault then they have not maintained it well enough, and if the equipment breaks because of vandalism then they haven't secured it well enough.[/QUOTE]

Sorry but I dont understand how you can blame them for someone else starting a fire which causes damage to a bridge (from the other post here), damages their equiptment and is unsafe to access?? I'm no great fan of EDF but if someone set fire to your house through vandalism you think it is your fault?

You are entitled to comp under guaranteed standards

GS2* Supply restoration: normal conditions
(Regulation 5) Supply must be restored within 18 hours, otherwise a payment must be made £50 for domestic customers and £100 for non-domestic customers, plus £25 for each further 12 hours

This is from the ofgem website. Given your circumstances they may get more time.
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?docid=41&refer=Networks/ElecDist/QualofServ/GuarStandds

Cardew

RichW wrote: »

and if the equipment breaks because of vandalism then they haven't secured it well enough.

I also fail to see the logic in that statement.

If your car is vandalised - even set alight - when parked, would you accept that you are at fault for not 'securing it well enough'?

KimYeovil

I'm confused and a little fuzzy. Under this new (sic) be civil to newbies regime did I manage to restrain myself and not reply or was my first response deleted?

(I've a sneaking suspicion I should save this post as a template.)

Pink_fluff

RichW wrote: »

Hi.

My electricity has now been off for just over 21 hours and they are predicting it will be at least 24 hours. Some surrounding areas have been put on a 3 hour rotation, but not in my area.

They are claiming that vandalism is the reason for this, and there is no bad weather to affect it.

I question is what compensation can I realistically claim from my energy 'supplier' for this? I heard somewhere that you are entitled to something after 18 hours but would these circumstances qualify for this? And does it have to be an uninterrupted 18 hour period (as it is for me) or can you total up the time you are without power?

Thanks

You need to put in any claims to the electricity distributor, which is not always the same company as your supplier. Ofgem's guaranteed standard states that if supply is off for 18 hours CONSECUTIVELY (spelling?!) then you are normally entitled to compensation. BUT if there are exceptional circumstances, then Ofgem can waive this and the payment is not payable.

supermumno1

This may be useful to some local people too - from the EDF website. All this of course assuming that vandalism isn't a get out clause for the company for paying any compensation to us all.
The situation below would apply to those people who are experiencing 6hrs off and 3hrs on at a time for the last 48hr or so.

EGS2a - Multiple interruptions

If your electricity supply fails because of a problem on our distribution system and you are without power for three hours or more, on four or more different occasions in any single year (12 month period) starting on 1 April, you are entitled to a £50 payment. The payment is the same whether you are a domestic or business customer.
You must make a valid claim for this payment within thee months of the end of the year to which the claim applies. In order for us to verify your claim, you must provide us with the address of the premises affected and the dates of the electricity supply failures.

clearing_out_my_pockets

RichW wrote: »

Freezer contents is a contents insurance issue isn't it though? Not the power company

Yes it is - I thought I was being helpful there.

RichW_2

clearing_out_my_pockets wrote: »

Yes it is - I thought I was being helpful there.

You were, and thank you. I was just confirming because I wasn't sure.

I won't bother claiming for that because the stuff in my freezer isn't worth what the excess is on my insurance but anyone who has a lot of stuff should obviously consider doing so