Essex residents without power four days after the severe storms are to be offered a £100 payment as an apology by electricity firm 24seven.

The company said it had restored power to 90 per cent of homes within 24 hours of the storms, which killed eight people on Sunday, October 27.

But in an open letter to customers, managing director Alan Carey said it wanted to apologise to customers who were without power some days after.

In some villages cables which had fallen down were not fixed until Friday - almost a week later.

Mr Carey said he estimated the blackout had affected 300,000 of its three million-plus customers, adding up to 20,000 would be eligible for the payment.

At first, 24seven said it would not pay out as the storm was "an act of God".

But in the letter, Mr Carey said anyone still without power at 10pm on Thursday, October 31, would be eligible for the one-off special storm payment.

Mr Carey said: "We will carry out a full review and welcome input from all interested parties, especially our customers.

"We may not see storms like this again for a decade, but we want to ensure that, when we do, our customers will get the best possible response from us, especially in the provision of information to them.

"We can't change the weather but we can, and will, improve how we deal with its effects."

To claim the payment or find out further details, customers should write to Peter Carey at 24seven, Fore Hamlet, Ipswich IP3 8AA or e-mail him at stormdamage@24sevennet.co.uk

Published Thursday November 7, 2002

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