Storm Barra
Storm Barra has arrived, and the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning. By all accounts this storm is not likely to have such an impact as Arwen, however I strongly suspect it will hamper the engineering teams who are trying to reconnect the final few hundred homes and businesses post-Arwen.
Storm Arwen - latest situation
As of this morning there were around 500 properties to be reconnected. Their plan had been to have that work complete by the end of today. I have just heard from them that at the close of the day's activities, there are 360 properties to be connected. Although I know how hard the engineers are working to get these remaining properties connected, it is not good enough that this has taken so long.
Priority Services Register
Regardless of the present power situation, if you would be more vulnerable in the event of a power outage, please consider adding yourself to the Priority Services Register. You will then be prioritised for help in the event of a power outage, be contacted in advance of a planned one, and the network operators can retain contact details of your friends and family to be able to reach you. More information on that HERE.
Support
If you or anyone you know is vulnerable and you are concerned for them, or you need hep with supplies, please contact the council teams - they are being supported by the military and have, in my experience, been very quick to respond to my requests for welfare checks on vulnerable people.
You can contact NCC via:
Contact Centre (for general queries): 0345 6006400
Northumberland Communities Together (for anyone struggling with food supplies or other essentials) Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm: 01670 620015
One Call (for concerns about vulnerable residents or safeguarding issues): 01670 536400
Compensation
As you know, Ofgem has agreed to lift the cap on the number of days for which customers can claim compensation for the loss of power (up to £140 per day).
Today, my colleague the Business Secretary has written to both Ofgem and the network operators, urging them to ensure customers are compensation promptly. Ofgem has been asked to update the Government on the measures it will take to ensure that happens.
You can read those letters HERE.
According to Ofgem's guaranteed standards, operators have 10 days to pay compensation from when customers apply.