Endless Power Cuts - help

Flybaby

Hi,
Does anyone have any experience with ongoing power cuts?
We have been having little powercuts for the last 6 months, only minor, but annoying screwing up the sky plus box and cooker clock each time. We have now had two major power cuts in the last month - one for 14 hours and one for 3 hours.
I called Eon to register complaint and was told I had to register it with the distributor, EDF, which I did. Mainly I wanted to find out if they were investigating and fixing whatever is causing the power cuts. They were most unhelpful saying that, yes, they could see the amount of power cuts and they were all different causes and they could give me no reassurance that we wouldn't be suffering regular power cuts going forward.
Is there anything I can do about this? I don't want compensation, I just want a consistent electricity supply ( and I mean a reasonable consistent supply so of course , one is bound to get the odd power cut). The EDF advisor did mention I can ask to be switched substations but this would be at our cost probably of a few hundred pounds.
Any advice on how to find a resolution would be gratefully received.
THanks

hippey

You have not said where you are in the UK but I'm assuming the south of England.

My parents have always had the same problem in Lincolnshire, but they are served by an ageing overhead line system which any mention of bad weather seems to give up! It's one thing they have been used to for years, EMEB did renew some of the lines a few years ago (givng the clue in the fact that EMEB did it!) but the rest has only been patched up. Has the power cuts got worse recently? I don't think it's that easy to change your substation as the agent said it was, I know the lines to the old folks house run quite some distance and they are served from 2 locations about 5 miles away.

I believe this is as a safeguard to supply, one fails the other switches over? This might explain short length failures.

specialsparky

Hi, Flybaby you first need to understand that your supplier,in this case Eon only but electricity and sell it to you. They are not responsible for distribution that will be the local distributor depending where you live. Is seems like it is EDF. There are certain levels of supply that they must adhere to and these are covered by regulations. I completley understand your frustration and the offer of compensation, which would only be about £20 when you had been without supply for something like 12hrs is no good.
If this has recently become a problem then it is worth asking EDF what is the issue are they sorting it etc. Are your neigbours affected? Are there any local businesses affected? Sometime joining together will force these distributors to act and move quickly.
You could always contact the local paper. Do keep a note of the dates, times and length of interuption as it will help your case.
Moaning and complaining will eventually wear them down.
Good luck

Terrylw1

Hi,

You need to look at the electricity licence conditions found on the Ofgem website which will tell you the obligations/compensation available.

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/ElecDist/QualofServ/GuarStandds/Pages/GuarStandds.aspx

The table of standards details obligations over compensation.

lemontart

I get that impression too as I get a lot of calls about them even though the gas emergency service cannot help for some reason they call us and there appears to be a definite increase in calls this year saying they have a power cut