STORM AMY: Compensation and where to get hot food as 4900 properties still without power
Thousands of people in the north of Scotland remain without power after Storm Amy.
Many have been without electricity since Friday evening (September 3) after the first named storm of the season.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said power had been restored to about 83,000 properties since storm-force winds began across Scotland on Friday.
However, 4900 homes remain without, with most of them in the power Highlands.
Several hundred team members are working for a third full day to fix a total of more than 700 network faults, and ensure customers are kept informed and supported.
SSEN said the focus of Monday’s storm response operation has been two-pronged, including tree-cutting and network repair teams who have been clearing access routes and fixing network damage.
SSEN’s own teams are being supported by more than 500 people who’ve travelled to the north of Scotland from other network operators based elsewhere in the country, and from contract partners.
Hot food vans and businesses
More than 17,000 free hot meals have been served across the weekend and today by food vans alone and a number of local businesses have also opened their doors on SSEN’s behalf.
As part of SSEN’s support package, customers without power for more than 12 hours are entitled to £30 per person for every day without power, to cover the cost of food and drink.
· Public Car Park, Drumnadrochit, Inverness IV63 6TU - 9am to 7pm
· Fiddler’s, The Village Green, Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness, Inverness-Shire, IV63 6TX - 5.30pm - 8pm
· Tulloch Castle Hotel, Tulloch Castle Dr, Dingwall, Ross-Shire IV15 9ND - 5.30pm - 8.30pm
· Contin Community Trust Hall - Contin, Strathpeffer, IV14 9ES - 10am to 7pm
· Fort Augustus Village Hall, Church Rd, Fort Augustus PH32 4DG - 9.30am to 7pm
· The Star Inn, 8 High St, Ardersier, Inverness IV2 7QB - 8am - 8pm
· Platform 1864, Station Rd, Tain IV19 1JA - 5.30pm - 8pm
Compensation
People registered for SSEN’s Priority Services can claim reasonable costs for alternative accommodation if they are without power for more than 24 hours.
Storm Amy has been confirmed as a Category 2 Severe Weather Event, which means customers without power for more than 48 hours continuously will receive a Guaranteed Standards payment of £85 and a subsequent payment of £45 for each continuous six-hour period that they did not have power thereafter.
Guaranteed Standards payments are issued automatically, and customers don’t need to make a claim or contact SSEN to receive this.
Nik Wheeler, SSEN’s head of customer operations for the north of Scotland, said: “The third full day of our storm response is also the third day without power for a number of our customers.
“I know this has been a challenging time, and I want to thank people for their patience and understanding. We’re working as safely and quickly as we can, and the pace of our restoration operation is picking up further speed as weather conditions improve, and the access to damage locations is cleared.
“However, the reality of what we’re finding once we make full assessments of the damage is considerable; in many locations, there are several issues on the same stretch of the network, and all these need to be fixed before homes can be reconnected.
“This is why some households have been contacted by us with an update to their reconnection time.
“While we complete these essential network repairs, I encourage people to use the free hot meal provision we’re providing across affected communities, and to take advantage of our support package, by claiming reimbursement for accommodation and food if they’re eligible.”