POWER CUT: Decision on EDF fine delayed by two months (From News Shopper)
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POWER CUT: Decision on EDF fine delayed by two months
2:52pm Thursday 2nd September 2010 in
A DECISION on whether to fine a company for a power cut that plunged 94,000 homes into darkness has been delayed by two months.
Energy watchdog Ofgem had been originally due to make a decision in February on whether to fine EDF Energy £2m for last year’s cut which affected homes in Dartford, Bexley and Orpington for up to four days.
But Ofgem has now said a final decision will not be made until mid October - 15 months after the original incident.
It originally announced it would punish the company in June and organised a consultation which ended on July 7.
EDF, which offered residents compensation of just £50, has claimed the cut was due to exceptional circumstances, after vandals got into its Dartford Creek site and caused a major fire to four electricity cables.
But Rosanna Currans, 63, who set up a petition to get increased compensation from the company after her home in Brent Way, Dartford, was left without power for 71 hours, has slammed the delay as “farcical”.
She said: “It’s really a disgrace that it has taken so long. I can’t understand why we can’t just have a yes or a no.
“If they’re waiting for me to give up I’m afraid they’ll be waiting until hell freezes over.”
Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett said he was "extremely disappointed" by the delay.
He said: "I have continued to press them on behalf of my constituents who have suffered so badly because of this incident last summer.
"I will be writing to Ofgem again, and urge them to publish their findings soon."
In a statement on its website, the watchdog blamed “ongoing communications” with EDF, saying: “We are aware that customers are awaiting the outcome and we will make our decision as soon as possible.”
Comments(9)
DrDBexley
says...
9:56pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Make Life wrote:because not everyone got the £50 and because it's high time these corporations started thinking about more than just profits and cutting corners! Fact remains that they were short sighted enough to allow a junction of this importance to be protected by a single padlock! It's their property, it's their responsibility to ensure it's secured, especially when it's lives and livelihoods of the people who pay their wages who are at risk of any failure in that security!
why cant people be happy with the £50 and be done with it!!
Make Life
says...
8:06am Fri 3 Sep 10
DrDBexley wrote:no matter how secure you make something people will always find a way of gaining entry.
Make Life wrote: why cant people be happy with the £50 and be done with it!!because not everyone got the £50 and because it's high time these corporations started thinking about more than just profits and cutting corners! Fact remains that they were short sighted enough to allow a junction of this importance to be protected by a single padlock! It's their property, it's their responsibility to ensure it's secured, especially when it's lives and livelihoods of the people who pay their wages who are at risk of any failure in that security!
DrDBexley
says...
8:20am Fri 3 Sep 10
Make Life wrote:Which isn't an excuse to not try!
DrDBexley wrote:no matter how secure you make something people will always find a way of gaining entry.
Make Life wrote: why cant people be happy with the £50 and be done with it!!because not everyone got the £50 and because it's high time these corporations started thinking about more than just profits and cutting corners! Fact remains that they were short sighted enough to allow a junction of this importance to be protected by a single padlock! It's their property, it's their responsibility to ensure it's secured, especially when it's lives and livelihoods of the people who pay their wages who are at risk of any failure in that security!
Make Life
says...
9:20am Fri 3 Sep 10
DrDBexley wrote:your right it is not an excuse not to try but what can they do?
Make Life wrote:Which isn't an excuse to not try!DrDBexley wrote:no matter how secure you make something people will always find a way of gaining entry.Make Life wrote: why cant people be happy with the £50 and be done with it!!because not everyone got the £50 and because it's high time these corporations started thinking about more than just profits and cutting corners! Fact remains that they were short sighted enough to allow a junction of this importance to be protected by a single padlock! It's their property, it's their responsibility to ensure it's secured, especially when it's lives and livelihoods of the people who pay their wages who are at risk of any failure in that security!
jca111
says...
12:07pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Home insurance will cover any lost food. £50 will cover any excess. So take your £50 and stop complaining.
DrDBexley
says...
12:18pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Make Life wrote:Errr, protect it better! For an area of this important they really should deter theives by using little bit more than just a padlock!
DrDBexley wrote:your right it is not an excuse not to try but what can they do?
Make Life wrote:Which isn't an excuse to not try!DrDBexley wrote:no matter how secure you make something people will always find a way of gaining entry.Make Life wrote: why cant people be happy with the £50 and be done with it!!because not everyone got the £50 and because it's high time these corporations started thinking about more than just profits and cutting corners! Fact remains that they were short sighted enough to allow a junction of this importance to be protected by a single padlock! It's their property, it's their responsibility to ensure it's secured, especially when it's lives and livelihoods of the people who pay their wages who are at risk of any failure in that security!
DrDBexley
says...
12:25pm Fri 3 Sep 10
jca111 wrote:Home insurance may cover the loss of food, and £50 may cover the excess but it won't cover the cost of the increased premium, or the cost of hotels that perhaps the eldery, vulnerable, young families etc. might have had to fork out for!
Compensation Culture!
Home insurance will cover any lost food. £50 will cover any excess. So take your £50 and stop complaining.
And yes it's compensation culture because the people affected pay a lot of money to be provided with these vital services and they should expect that those who are delivering them are capable and culpable so that when there is a failure to protect these services as spectacularly as in this instance, they should be re-imbursed for any losses suffered!
porkpie
says...
10:40am Tue 7 Sep 10
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The scene of the fire which damaged cables and resulted in the power failure
Rosanna Currans has a petition with nearly 1,000 signatures calling on power company EDF to increase their £50 good will payment offer.
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Make Life says...
5:27pm Thu 2 Sep 10