10,000 still without power a week after the storms

Nearly 10,000 people remained without electricity last night nearly a week after storms cut supplies. Energy companies were condemned as "pathetic" for failing to restore power.

The supply companies face compensation claims of up to £4m after the storms that killed nine people, but say they do not have to pay because the weather was an "act of God".

More than 18,000 homes began yesterday without power. They were mainly in areas of East Anglia and the east Midlands covered by two companies, 24seven and Aquila, which have provoked a barrage of complaints from customers who could not even contact them to report that their homes were cut off.

The companies were criticised yesterday by the energy consumers' group Energywatch and the Energy minister, Brian Wilson, who said it was unacceptable that people were without electricity five days after the storms.

"It is doubly unacceptable that people still can't get through to their suppliers. I regard that as pathetic," Mr Wilson said.

Energy companies are expected to pay compensation to customers cut off for more than 18 hours but are allowed to apply to the industry regulator, Ofgem, if the problems are caused by severe weather.

Mr Wilson said he was not suggesting a "blanket compensation" system for power cuts, but people had a right to expect compensation when they were cut off for extended periods. "In more serious circumstances, where the powers been off for days, where people have not been able to communicate, then clearly there is a case for compensation. There is an adjudication process and I would urge people to claim. It's a piece of brass neck for companies to make a blanket statement, 'We will not pay compensation'. Ultimately, it's not up to them, fortunately."

A spokesman for Energywatch said it did not accept the companies' assertion that they did not have to pay compensation because the storms were an act of God. "Consumers have a right to say, 'I have been sat in the dark and cold for five days now and it is not right, I want a refund'," the spokeswoman said.

"The power companies have had since 1987 to prepare for these storms, that is 15 years, and there were problems again in storms in October 2000. It is appalling that a bit of rain and wind in Britain can cause so much chaos."

The electricity company 24seven said later about 9,500 of its customers in East Anglia and surrounding areas were without power. They included 2,700 customers in Essex, 4,200 in Suffolk and 1,700 in Norfolk.

A spokeswoman for the company said the gales had caused the same amount of damage to its network as the great storm of 1987.

She added: "We are finding extreme damage in Suffolk and Norfolk, which is very time- consuming to fix. Trees and branches have brought down power lines and the wind has brought down structures."

An Aquila spokeswoman said only about 50 customers were without power last night.

Eurostar has offered customers hit by cancellations this week the chance to travel free when the first stage of the Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link is completed next autumn.

COMPANIES GENERATING ANGER

24seven

24seven, which runs the supply networks in London and East Anglia, is a wholly owned subsidiary of London Electricity Group.

It was created as a joint venture between London Electricity and TXU, which owned the network in East Anglia. But London Electricity then bought the East Anglian network and took over 24seven. Last year 24seven made operating profits of £177m. London Electricity is part of Électricité de France.

Aquila

The American company Aquila Inc supplies electricity to two million customers in the Midlands. In July it bought a distribution company called Midlands Electricity and renamed it Midlands Electricity Aquila Networks.

It is already trying to sell the company, which is saddled with large debts. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Aquila has $11.9bn (£7.6bn) of assets. Its chief executive, Robert Green, resigned last month with a $7.6m pay off.

'At first it was quite fun. Now I can't wait for a hot shower'

A week without power: The diary of Roger Worland, a biologist with the British Antarctic Survey and his wife, Barbara, both 52, who spent last week without electricity at their home in Hardwick near Cambridge.

SUNDAY

"Sitting reading when I heard a thud and the power went off. A branch had come off the tree and hit a power line. It was impossible to contact anybody from 24/7. Found candles. In a way, it's fun and quite romantic."

MONDAY

"Tried to reach the electricity people all day but we got a recorded message. All we have for heat is a gas fire. We are cooking with a camping stove. We heat water in the morning to wash, then make tea. I've been to the Antarctic eight times so I'm used to camping in the cold. It's hard on Barbara."

TUESDAY

"Got through to somebody at 24/7 but they couldn't tell us anything. If we'd known it was going to be so long we would have bought paraffin heaters."

WEDNESDAY

"Rang the electricity people but every time it is like the first time we called. They seem to have no record of previous calls. The big inconvenience is not having hot water so we can't have a shower. It's becoming a bit depressing. But we went to the pub for dinner so there are some compensations."

THURSDAY

"Went round for dinner with our neighbours. We are the only ones without power. Barbara nipped round for a bath. The waiting is so mundane. After a week without a shower the romance has gone."

FRIDAY

"Power back on lunchtime. Barbara still annoyed we were never told what was happening. If she'd been told the electricity would be off all week she might have gone to her sister's in St Ives. I can't wait to have a hot shower."