APPENDIX 16
Memorandum submitted by Scottish Power
plc
I refer to your letter dated 8 March 1999 requesting
information on the impact of the Boxing Day storm on our customers
and network. I have included a general summary of the events together
with the specific information you requested on our customer restoration
process and compensation payments.
1. SUMMARY OF
EVENTS
At around 16.30 hours on Boxing Day, Scotland
was swept by hurricane force winds which lasted well into the
morning of the following day. These winds, with speeds which were
reported to gust in excess of 105 mph in places, caused extensive
damage to ScottishPower's transmission and distribution networks.
The main damage in our territory was caused
by trees falling onto overhead distribution lines. At the peak
there were over 125,000 customers off supply. In total more than
240,000 customers lost their supply during the period. A number
of customers were affected more than once due to outages at the
different voltage levels. The widespread nature of the storm was
unusual as it affected our complete territory in Scotland, with
damage from the south west corner around Stranraer to the north
east of Fife around St. Andrews. The overall damage was as great
as can be remembered in the last 30 years, even by engineers who
worked through the 1968 storms which affected the Glasgow area.
More than 1,000 staff were involved in the repair
process. ScottishPower staff were supported by contractors and
staff from other PESs including Scottish Hydro, MEB, EMEB, SWALEC
and Eastern.
2. SUPPLY RESTORATION
The table below provides a summary of customer
restoration.
| 26 December 1998—3 January 1999
|
| Length of time of supply
|
| 0-3
hours | 3-6
hours
| 6-12
hours | 12-18
hours
| 18-24
hours | 24-36
hours
| 36-48
hours | 48-60
hours
| 60-72
hours |
Longer
|
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Number of customers | 186,372
| 87,170 | 21,500 | 28,163
| 11,068 | 17,099 | 7,760
| 2,909 | 5,258 | 7,062
|
| Per cent | (50.0) | (23.3)
| (5.7) | (7.5) | (2.9)
| (4.5) | (2.1) | (0.8)
| (1.4) | (1.9) |
3. COMPENSATION PAYMENTS
No payments were made to customers under our Guaranteed Standard
obligations. Nevertheless, the levels of ex gratia payments
were in line with those contained in our Guaranteed Standards.
In addition, ScottishPower reimbursed accommodation and other
subsistence costs encountered by customers who were off supply
for prolonged periods. In response to a question from OFFER, at
the end of February 1999 we reported ex gratia payments
to 44,600 customers totalled £3.6 million. A small number
of claims are still being processed.
18 March 1999
|
