PERMANENT repairs to the damaged electricity cables which caused a mass power cut in large parts of Bexley, Dartford and Orpington could take up to two years and cost millions of pounds.

Representatives from power company EDF Energy Networks faced angry members of the public at a meeting at St Martin’s Church in Barnehurst.

EDF came under repeated criticism at the meeting for the lack of security, lack of a back-up power system and for its “goodwill gesture” in offering £50 to people who were without any power for more than 24 hours.

The meeting was packed with residents, many of them from Slade Green, who were without electricity for up to 66 hours.

EDF was adamant there would be no compensation for any losses individuals or businesses had suffered.

Bob Lane, the company’s director of network operations, said energy regulator Ofgem had agreed the incident was “an exceptional circumstance” which meant it did not have to make any payout at all.

But the company had decided to offer £50 and had written to every affected customer, inviting them to claim.

This angered not only residents, but also councillors and other political representatives at the meeting.

Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett said he had already written to Business Secretary Lord Mandelson querying the “exceptional circumstance” decision.

Mr Lane said security would have to be reviewed at the site in Dartford which was targeted before permanent repairs are made but the four affected cables would all be reconnected before the winter.

Mr Evennett replied: “EDF needs to go away and look at its whole security system.

“Obviously, the security was not good enough.”

Mr Lane revealed those who broke into the site had chiselled off the locks and had left hammers and chisels behind.

Slade Green vicar the Rev Ann Tarper said the company needed to install a proper alarm system with heat and motion sensors.

The London Assembly member for Bexley, James Cleverley, said it was unacceptable to make 100,000 people reliant on one cable bridge for their electricity supply.

He said in future EDF had to make sure there were always two sources of electricity and said City Hall would lend a sympathetic ear to any EDF proposals Bexley council leader Councillor Teresa O’Neill defended the council’s actions and after hearing the problems faced by people living in tower blocks agreed to add them to the list of “vulnerable people” for any future emergency.