So, Storm Darragh hit the west coast of Wales pretty hard and many thousands of people, including me, suffered fairly major disruption.
I'm now trying to drill down into the compensation for the disruption. Although 'storm damage' isn't something that energy networks can plan too far ahead on, with climate change being 'a thing' and knowing that we'll be seeing a lot more of this in future, I'm hoping that the industry can start to be more proactive than reactive.
The compensation is something I'm struggling to get a straight answer on. They don't make it easy to navigate the process!
First port of call is the energy network, in my case it used to be Western Power but they are now part of National Grid. Their website has this:
Can I claim compensation for loss and damage caused by a power cut?
You can find out more about compensation for power cuts by visiting the ENA website.
So right from the get go, the buck is already being passed.
A visit to the ENA website reveals this:
Further information is available on Ofgem's website.
So once more, the buck is being passed. So on to OFGEM who aren't worth a light at the best of times, and they say this:
You will get an extra £40 for every 6 hours afterwards. The maximum amount you can claim is £2,000.
You will get an extra £40 for every 6 hours afterwards. The maximum amount you can claim is £2,000.
Woohoo......but where is the definition of Category 1 or Category 2 storm? More research required there, then!
They then go on to say:
How to claim
You must claim within three months for unplanned supply cuts, or within a month for planned supply cuts where you were not given notice.
You can make a claim through your your gas or electricity supplier.
So it appears that the route for claiming compensation is via the supplier, in my case that would be E.On Next.
So, having been off supply for thirty six hours, plus change, I need to know how to file my compensation claim (is there a form to fill in or a set procedure?), who defines whether it was a Cat 1 or Cat 2 event (Met office, DNO, ENA or OFGEM?) and what the parameters are.
Compensation due is to be paid within 10 working days. How is this done? Cheque? Credit to my energy account?
With all the buck-passing between organisations just trying to find the information I need, I somehow suspect getting any compensation will also involve buck-passing, blame-shifting and other convoluted paths before anything happens, and I'm sure it will take much longer than the stated ten days.
If I have a faulty product such as a home appliance, my first line of redress and the responsibility of liability under consumer law is the retailer. That is to say, the party that I entered into a contract with and who have my money. That is not negotiable. None of this 'you need to contact the manufacturer' or 'we don't repair these, you need to call the Helpline' nonsense. It's is the retailer's responsibility to provide redress and then the onus is on them to pass the problem back up the line to the manufacturer.
So, my claim for compensation will naturally be through my supplier (E.On Next) as I have a contract with them, not with my DNO, ENA, OFGEM or anyone else, yes?
So first question. How is the category of the storm decided, and is that information going to be notified to customers or published in the Public Domain?
Second question. Can you please point me in the direction of a compensation claim.
Third question. You aren't going to have the brass neck to charge me for the day and a half standing charge where you did not provide the supply as contracted, are you?!
I'm now trying to drill down into the compensation for the disruption. Although 'storm damage' isn't something that energy networks can plan too far ahead on, with climate change being 'a thing' and knowing that we'll be seeing a lot more of this in future, I'm hoping that the industry can start to be more proactive than reactive.
The compensation is something I'm struggling to get a straight answer on. They don't make it easy to navigate the process!
First port of call is the energy network, in my case it used to be Western Power but they are now part of National Grid. Their website has this:
Can I claim compensation for loss and damage caused by a power cut?
You can find out more about compensation for power cuts by visiting the ENA website.
So right from the get go, the buck is already being passed.
A visit to the ENA website reveals this:
Compensation for power cuts in severe weather
When you can claim depends on how Ofgem categorise storms in severe weather.Further information is available on Ofgem's website.
So once more, the buck is being passed. So on to OFGEM who aren't worth a light at the best of times, and they say this:
Compensation for power cuts in severe weather
Your level of compensation depends on the category of the severe weather, and how long you were without a power supply.Storm category 1
You can get £85 if your power has been cut off for 24 hours.You will get an extra £40 for every 6 hours afterwards. The maximum amount you can claim is £2,000.
Storm category 2
You can get £85 if your power has been cut off for 48 hours.You will get an extra £40 for every 6 hours afterwards. The maximum amount you can claim is £2,000.
Woohoo......but where is the definition of Category 1 or Category 2 storm? More research required there, then!
They then go on to say:
How to claim
You must claim within three months for unplanned supply cuts, or within a month for planned supply cuts where you were not given notice.
You can make a claim through your your gas or electricity supplier.
So it appears that the route for claiming compensation is via the supplier, in my case that would be E.On Next.
So, having been off supply for thirty six hours, plus change, I need to know how to file my compensation claim (is there a form to fill in or a set procedure?), who defines whether it was a Cat 1 or Cat 2 event (Met office, DNO, ENA or OFGEM?) and what the parameters are.
Compensation due is to be paid within 10 working days. How is this done? Cheque? Credit to my energy account?
With all the buck-passing between organisations just trying to find the information I need, I somehow suspect getting any compensation will also involve buck-passing, blame-shifting and other convoluted paths before anything happens, and I'm sure it will take much longer than the stated ten days.
If I have a faulty product such as a home appliance, my first line of redress and the responsibility of liability under consumer law is the retailer. That is to say, the party that I entered into a contract with and who have my money. That is not negotiable. None of this 'you need to contact the manufacturer' or 'we don't repair these, you need to call the Helpline' nonsense. It's is the retailer's responsibility to provide redress and then the onus is on them to pass the problem back up the line to the manufacturer.
So, my claim for compensation will naturally be through my supplier (E.On Next) as I have a contract with them, not with my DNO, ENA, OFGEM or anyone else, yes?
So first question. How is the category of the storm decided, and is that information going to be notified to customers or published in the Public Domain?
Second question. Can you please point me in the direction of a compensation claim.
Third question. You aren't going to have the brass neck to charge me for the day and a half standing charge where you did not provide the supply as contracted, are you?!
Last edited by retrotecchie; 1 Week Ago at 11:51.
Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player. I DON'T work for or on behalf of EON.Next, but am willing to try and help if I can. Not on mains gas, mobile network or mains drainage. House heated almost entirely by baby dragons.
