ALMOST 1,000 residents have signed a petition calling on a power company to improve their compensation offer to people affected by last month’s power cut.

Around 93,000 households were plunged into darkness following a fire on a cable bridge over Dartford Creek, leaving residents across Dartford, Bexley and Orpington without electricity for three days.

EDF Energy has already offered customers who were without power for more than 24 hours continuously, a good will gesture payment of £50.

But the woman behind the petition, 62-year-old Rosanna Currans, described the amount as “an absolute insult”.

Mrs Currans, who had no electricity for 71 hours at her home in Brent Way, Dartford, said: “People are very angry. Some are really annoyed because they feel it was due to a lack of security. EDF has not stopped to think what people have been through.

“I have spoken to people who have not received any good will gesture. People are cross about the fact they have to apply for it. EDF should know which families were affected. A good will gesture would have been sending out money without making people apply.

Outgoing Dartford MP Dr Howard Stoate has already written to EDF asking the company to offer more money.

The Labour MP said: “I do feel the sum of £50 should be higher, and I am therefore calling on EDF to consider raising their offer to those who were longest without power.

“I believe that an offer of £50 for the first 24 hours without power, and £25 for each subsequent day there after that would be more generous, and indeed, more in line with what consumers could have expected should EDF have been found at fault by the regulator.”

A spokeswoman for EDF said: “It is important to keep in mind that EDF Energy Networks is a regulated business and, as such, the income we receive is set by our regulator.

“Within that remit we cannot compensate for losses incurred due to power cuts.

“We are sorry for any losses incurred during this interruption, but in common with all other UK electricity distribution companies, this is always a matter for the customer’s own insurance.”

To sign the petition visit tinyurl.com/edf-power/