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Uswitch comments as Ofgem doubles minimum payments to consumers affected by future power cuts caused by severe weather

Ofgem has today secured an additional £3.3 million from SSE and UKPN after its investigation into the companies’ performance during the exceptional storms last Christmas in the south of England.  This is in addition to £4.7 million paid out to consumers under the guaranteed standards and in goodwill payments. Ofgem has also said that minimum payments will be more than doubled to those affected by severe weather incidents in future.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at Uswitch.com, says: “This won’t make up for the blackout Christmas suffered by so many last year, but Ofgem’s announcement means that in future consumers should get reconnected faster and kept better informed if they’re plunged into the dark.

“The increase in minimum pay-outs for homes affected by power cuts from £27 to £70 per day should encourage firms to do everything they can to restore power as quickly as possible. Being without power is particularly hard for more vulnerable households, especially if they are dependent on electricity for heating their homes.

“We urge energy companies and networks to really learn the lessons from last winter’s storms, so that the impact of future power cuts on consumers is minimised. While the energy industry can’t control the weather, it should do all it can to support customers should their homes be impacted by it.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Jason Wakeford

Phone: 0203 872 5612

Email: jason.wakeford@uswitch.com

Twitter: @UswitchPR

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