Households left without power for 48 hours or more after Storm Boelo could be entitled to £90 in compensation, under rules set by the energy watchdog Ofgem. Further payments of £45 are available for every additional six-hour period without power.
Gusts of up to 84mph were recorded in some areas as the storm hit parts of the UK on Sunday, October 25. More than 800,000 homes were affected by power cuts during Boelo and its predecessor, Storm Austen.
Reconnection Progress
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) said on Monday morning that 39,000 customers were still without power in Great Britain, and 785,000 households have now been reconnected.
Ashton-in-Makerfield was among the areas hit by power cuts, with the storm damaging an electricity pole on Slag Lane. Around 200 homes in the area lost power, and a rest centre was set up at Ashton Leisure Centre.
Compensation Rules by Storm Category
The amount of compensation, and how it is claimed, differs depending on whether the storm is classified as category one or category two. Under Ofgem rules, households are entitled to £90 if their power is cut off for 48 hours or more following a category two storm, with an extra £45 for every additional six-hour period. The maximum claim for loss of power supply is up to £2,235.
In a category one storm, households are entitled to £90 in compensation for the first 24 hours that their power is cut off, followed by an extra £45 for every additional six-hour period.
Automatic Payments and Next Steps
For category one storms, no claim is needed; the network operator will automatically pay compensation if they have bank details. Payment may also be made through the energy supplier, with the money added to an energy account or prepayment meter.
If a payment is not received automatically, households should contact their network operator directly. If a payment has been missed, they may be owed an extra £40.
