Dorset among worst-affected areas for power cuts in the aftermath of Storm Eunice

In a 12pm update today electricity provider SSEN announced it is stepping up welfare efforts as thousands of homes across its networks remain without power after hurricane-force winds wreaked havoc on Friday.

Today Storm Franklin has led to new power faults, with fallen trees causing access issues for SSEN's teams, as well as 'multiple' points of damage on overhead lines, which has extended repair times.

SSEN said its teams have worked overnight and from first light this morning to restore power to the remaining customers affected by Storm Eunice, the most severe storm to hit the south coast in over 30 years.

However some customers in Dorset have been told they may not have power restored until 11pm this evening.

Meanwhile, customers may be eligible for compensation of up to £700 if they have been without power for over 48hrs.

"Conditions remain challenging with the arrival of Storm Franklin causing sustained high winds, particularly across the coast," an SSEN spokesperson said.

"As of 12pm, we have restored power to around 180,000 homes leaving around 4,400 homes without power."

Parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Surrey, Oxfordshire and West Sussex are most affected, with further localised faults across the SSEN operating region, the company said.

SSEN's spokesperon added: "Recognising the ongoing impact, we have offered enhanced welfare for customers who have been affected by Storm Eunice. This includes reimbursement of accommodation costs where customers cannot make alternative arrangements themselves."

Richard Gough, SSEN director of distribution system operations, said: “The hurricane-force winds of Storm Eunice have resulted in some of the most extreme and challenging conditions experienced in the south of England for decades, with significant impact on our overhead line network. I would like to apologise to our customers for the continued disruption as our teams work around the clock to restore power.

“I’d also like to recognise our teams in the field and in our control and customer centres, who are doing a brilliant job in very difficult conditions and stand ready to respond to the impact of Storm Franklin, while prioritising restoring customers who have been without power longest.

“We fully appreciate the issues being faced by customers who have been without power since the start of Storm Eunice and as our teams work hard to reconnect the remaining homes, we are actively encouraging all customers who we expect to remain off supply for an extended period to take advantage of our enhanced welfare offer.”

Welfare support available

Accommodation support

- SSEN is >customers concerned about an extended power cut to make alternative arrangements to stay with family or friends - but recognises this may not be an option for all.

Where this is the case and a customer has been without power since Friday and their Estimated Time of Restoration was later than Sunday evening, SSEN is offering to reimburse all "reasonable costs" for arranging alternative accommodation.

Meals

- SSEN is placing welfare vans in communities most affected by Storm Eunice offering free hot food, drinks and charging facilities at the following locations, which will open at 8am until 2pm on Monday February 21.

In Dorset these are:

• Charmister Village Hall, Redwood House, Charlton, DT2 9UH

• Portesham Village Hall, Malthouse Meadow, Portesham, DT3 4NS

Similarly, for these customers who have been without power since Friday, if you do not live in proximity to these vans or need to remain in your home due to circumstances such as mobility or Covid-19, SSEN is offering to reimburse reasonable costs for a meal or takeaway, up to the value of £15 per person and up to a maximum of £60 per household.

Reimbursement

– eligible customers should book the accommodation and meals directly and retain all receipts which should then be sent to SSEN for reimbursement via the following link - https://tinyurl.com/EuniceClaim.

All claims will be processed for reimbursement promptly once full restoration has taken place.

SSEN asks any customer in a vulnerable situation who may find it difficult to organise this for themselves to contact them so that they can look to support them on a 'case by case' basis.

Compensation for loss of power

Separate to the enhanced welfare offering above, SSEN said it recognises that customers may have questions regarding compensation, which is governed by Guaranteed Standards of Service set by the regulator, Ofgem.

Customers will be eligible for compensation under Guaranteed Standards if they have been without power for over 48hrs, where they will be eligible for a payment of £70.

A further £70 will be due for each additional period of 12 hours in which supply is not restored, up to a cap of £700.

Customers do not need to contact SSEN to receive this compensation. SSEN will automatically issue this by cheque to the address that was impacted by the storms based on the data they hold. SSEN will send a letter to addresses where this information is incomplete.