EDF Make More Goodwill Payments After Power Cuts

Industry regulator Ofgem has concluded that huge power cuts in 2009 were beyond EDF Energy's control

The power cuts in 2009 were caused by a fire at a cable bridge and resulted in more than 94,000 customers losing supply, with almost 20,000 customers not having power for more than 24 hours.  It was all as a result of vandalism.

Here's what EDF Energy have told us:

“EDF Energy Networks again extends its apologies for the disruption to customers following the fire caused by criminal damage in Dartford last year.

“This was an illegal attack on the network which disrupted and inconvenienced local communities for several days and cost EDF Energy Networks millions of pounds.

“Ofgem recognised that we successfully managed the incident, limited the number of customers affected and restored supplies as quickly and efficiently as possible in very extreme circumstances.

“Ofgem’s decision means no penalty or fine under the Interruption Incentive Scheme (IIS) that is used to measure the quality of electrical supply that a customer receives.

“However, we recognise the disruption caused and, on top of the goodwill payments already given to customers, will pay another £700,000 to be distributed amongst more than 12,000 of the worst-affected customers.

“We will also set up a community fund to give £750,000 to local causes to benefit residents and will work closely with Dartford and Bexley councils to agree the best way of doing this.

“Since the incident we have carried out a full security review of this and similar sites to ensure that we achieve best practice in this area going forward."