GENERATORS have been brought in from as far afield as Scotland as EDF Energy Networks works to restore electricity supplies to parts of Bexley, Dartford and Orpington.

They are now providing back up power at 38 sites in the area, supplying 11,200 customers, with more due to be connected today.

This includes several care homes across the Dartford area.

News Shopper: Engineers work to restore the power

Engineers continue to work on emergency repairs around the clock, following the fire which caused serious damage to high voltage cables on Monday (July 20).

The damage resulted in the loss of electricity supplies to thousands of customers across the Dartford, Crayford, Bexleyheath, Erith and Orpington areas.

It is believed the fire was started by vandals interfering with the cables and police are investigating what happened.

At the peak of the incident around 92,000 customers were without power supplies.

By switching supplies to other circuits on the network engineers managed to restore power to 31,000 customers on Monday and they restored power to 3,000 more households in this way last night.

Another 45,000 in Crayford, Erith and Bexleyheath have had access to some power for three-hour periods on a rota basis, while some people have still been completely without power today.

The generators have provided supplies to 11,200 more and more generators will be connected today.

News Shopper: The power problems started on Monday

An EDF spokesman said: “We are working round the clock on a permanent repair to the damaged cables.

“Our priority is restoring power to all our customers as quickly as is safely possible, and we continue to work on a full restoration of power supplies.

“Because of the extent of the damage and complexity of the repairs, it is not possible to be completely accurate but EDF Energy Networks hopes that power will be restored to remaining customers, not already back on supply either permanently or temporarily, late this evening.

“EDF Energy Networks would like to apologise to all customers affected by this major incident and we thank everyone for their patience while we work to return supplies.

“We would like to ask all customers being supplied by generators or on a temporary basis to use electricity for essential purposes only.

“In this way we can ensure the situation does not become overloaded and as many people as possible have power.

“We have also enlisted the support of The British Red Cross who have visited a number of vulnerable customers to offer advice and support.

“EDF Energy has brought in extra call centre staff to provide information and advice to customers.”

Residents can find out when an electricity supply will be available in their area by going to EDF's website at edfenergy.com or by calling its emergency contact centre on 08000 280247.