A disabled NI woman left without power for almost a week during Storm Éowyn has said the Executive Office’s silence on a failed compensation agreement “makes it look like they don’t care”.
Power cuts caused by the storm affected 285,000 households and businesses, after gusts exceeding 95mph battered Northern Ireland in January.
As clear-up efforts began, First and Deputy First Ministers Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly raised hopes of compensatory payments to those left without power, calling on companies to provide “goodwill payments”.
“They can do a goodwill payment, is our understanding,” Mrs Little-Pengelly said.
Then-Economy Minister Conor Murphy went as far as to tell the public that a deal with NIE on compensation payments had been agreed in principle.
On Monday, the Department for the Economy announced that NIE had informed them compensation payments were not possible as the company had activated a severe weather exemption.
No compensation system for damage during severe weather exists in NI, despite a similar scheme operating in Great Britain since 2005.
Proposals to introduce a scheme here were included in consultation documents by the NI Utility Regulator on two occasions, with the most recent being mothballed for more than a year.
Neither Ms O’Neill or Mrs Little-Pengelly have yet commented on the announcement. The Belfast Telegraph also reached out to the Executive Office for comment on Monday. No response has yet been received.
Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly raised the possibility of ‘goodwill payments’ in the immediate aftermath of the storm
Co Antrim resident Karen (57), who did not wish us to publish her surname, lives with a physical disability.
She was left without power for six days following the storm and had to contact a local radio station to raise awareness of her and her neighbours’ plight before help was provided.
She said the current situation has left the public feeling like their leaders do not care.
“I am absolutely angry. One minute we are being told there could be compensation for when we are out of electric and the next we are told we are getting nothing,” she told the Belfast Telegraph.
“It’s ridiculous; they are making it look as if they really don’t care about anybody. That’s not right. They are doing nothing to help us.”
It comes after Chair of the Economy Committee, DUP MLA Phillip Brett, revealed customers who had already applied for compensation could now be subject to charges.
Phillip Brett MLA
Department head of energy Richard Rodgers revealed to the committee that 18,000 customers had already applied.
Mr Brett said the Utility Regulator had told him those who made the claims could now themselves be subject to charges.
“This whole episode has been deeply damaging for the department,” he said.
“What we have seen is a false claim made by the minister that it had been agreed in principle that compensation payments would be paid.”
Mr Rodgers said there were “no easy answers” to the situation.
“I think it was unfortunate that right in the middle, in the eye of the storm so to speak, that the clamour was for compensation,” he said.
“With hindsight, messaging should be sharper and quicker.”
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News Catch Up – Wednesday 12 March