Power Cut

sylvey1

HI,
COULD ANYONE ADVISE ME PLEASE?
my daughter hAd a power cut a couple of weeks ago, her power was off from 1am until 5.30 pm (16 1/2 hours).
now power gen says they dont have to give her any compo as her electric was not off for 18 hours or more, as my daughter has a baby of 7 months she could not make any bottles etc for him, she could not phone out, as her phone only works with electric, so she had to get a taxi to my house some 6 miles away so she could make a bottle for her baby etc,
any advise about this would be grateful,
thank you in advance
sylvia

Fran

She should check her terms and conditions in the contract that she has with them to see if there is anything mentioned first.

Have a look at what the Ofgem Website has to say.

Marigold123

Don't know whether this will help, but some companies ask you to tell them if you are a vulnerable member of society, ie. elderly, sight or hearing impaired or disabled, so they can take extra care of you. If she were to make a point of contacting their disabilities/special access number perhaps she could explain her situation and tell them she considers herself vulnerable as she is on her own at home with a young baby and dependent on electricity to care for the baby properly.

I don't know whether it will help in this instance, but it might help for next time.

It also might help for her to say she only wants the cost of the (return) taxi fare compensated in the form of a credit to her electricty account. I'm sure they must be empowered to do this. She could also say that if she feels she will be left in a vulnerable position like this in the future she will change her electricity supplier. She doesn't have to go through with it, but if she can quote a company that is cheaper, (by using one of the links on this site), she might have a bit more bargaining power.

Hope this helps a bit.

sylvey1

hi,
just to say thank you for taking the time to reply to my problem, and a big thank you for your advice,
sylvia

Cagey

I used to work in Electricity Supply industry & I am sure you were due at least £20 if off supply for more than 2 hours. Not 100% sure on that but think I am right. There are exceptions for storms etc.

rosscobley

Cagey wrote:

I used to work in Electricity Supply industry & I am sure you were due at least £20 if off supply for more than 2 hours. Not 100% sure on that but think I am right. There are exceptions for storms etc.

no its not its 24 hours and its £25. its not the supplers fault and they wont pay you a penny. its up the the distribution company and if you change supplyer it wont make any diffence as no matter what supplyer you are with the distribution company will always be the same. plus it a really dumb idea to only have a phone that works off the elec what if she had a fire and could not get out and the elec was off.

sylvey1

rosscobley wrote:

no its not its 24 hours and its £25. its not the supplers fault and they wont pay you a penny. its up the the distribution company and if you change supplyer it wont make any diffence as no matter what supplyer you are with the distribution company will always be the same. plus it a really dumb idea to only have a phone that works off the elec what if she had a fire and could not get out and the elec was off.

thanks for your reply i have since spoken to ofgem and it is 18 hours or more and compo would be £50,

sylvey1

Cagey wrote:

I used to work in Electricity Supply industry & I am sure you were due at least £20 if off supply for more than 2 hours. Not 100% sure on that but think I am right. There are exceptions for storms etc.

hi thank you for taken the trouble to reply, i have now spoke to the powers to be and it is 18 hours or more with £50 compo, but thank you anyway.

rosscobley

ok i did'nt think it was that much i will check the Guaranteed standards see what they say.

jennyjo_2

when you buy cordless phones that need an electric supply the instructions always tell you to ensure that you still have an ordinary phone for emergencies

Edinburghlass_2

Where I stay we are continually being hit with long power cuts, I think with us that compensation is only paid after 24 hours continuous outage. Take care that the power has not been back on even for a few minutes, as the last time we were without power for several days and they had to bring in a generator, in the initial twenty four hour period the power had been back on through the night for a few minutes and that was enough to negate the 24 hour rule :mad:

Due to these power cuts, I have a tray of candles with lighter at the ready, along with a torch and a corded phone beside the main phone line.