Thousands of homes remain without heating and hot water as the UK braces itself for its second storm in a fortnight.
Communities struggling to recover from Storm Arwen 10 days ago have been warned that the incoming Storm Barra is likely to cause more disruption.
A yellow warning for wind has been issued for Tuesday while heavy snow is expected across northern England and Scotland.
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) said that 3,190 homes were still waiting to be reconnected as of 2pm on Sunday. This was down from 4,025 homes on Sunday morning.
The majority of the affected homes are in the north east of England, the ENA said.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said power had been restored to all 135,000 of its affected customers by Sunday evening.
Forecasters have warned Storm Barra is likely to hamper recovery efforts and could cause more damage.
The west of Ireland is expected to bear the brunt of the storm but people across the UK have been told to prepare for 45-50mph winds that could knock out major infrastructure.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the gale force winds on Tuesday and into Wednesday would not make it ‘easier’ for those trying to reconnect the remaining homes.
‘It’s certainly not going to aid things with those sorts of wind strengths, and a mixture of rain and snow in there as well,’ he said.
‘It’s not going to make working conditions any easier for those out and about.’
Anger is growing over the length of time it has taken to reconnect homes after the Storm Arwen damage.
Stewart, who lives with his partner in Alnwick, Northumberland, still hasn’t had his power connected and said he’s beginning to lose hope.
‘It’s exhausting, it’s wearing us down, and it’s a constant worry. Every day seems to bring a new problem,’ he said.
‘On day nine there was torrential rain and our village started to flood. That was mainly because of the storm debris.
‘What happened was that then flooded our village water works – it flooded our sewage system. Our neighbour couldn’t use his toilet without it flooding.
‘I had to clear standing water from the road, which got my clothes wet, and then return to a house without heating.
‘From my window I can see a snapped telegraph pole and cables lying on the ground.
‘The weather forecast is dreadful. We have not got any hope at all. It’s awful, it’s the futility of it.’
Some northern-based MPs have alleged that the delays are in part due to the homes affected being in the north, and not the south.
Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng visited the North East on Sunday to survey the damage done and said it was ‘unacceptable’ for people had been cut off for such a long time.
He added that a review will be carried out, and if energy firms are found to have failed to invest in infrastructure then ‘there could be enforcement action’.
But Mr Kwarteng said he didn’t accept that the problems would have been dealt with quicker if they’d been in the south.
‘The physical infrastructure, layout and landscape is very different,’ he said.
‘One of the particular reasons why we haven’t got people back on the power supply is the weather conditions and they are very challenging (with) people in sparsely populated, very rural areas and that represents a challenge.’
The long delays have prompted energy regulator Ofgem to warn it will take enforcement action against network companies who failed to restore power to customers quickly enough.
It has also agreed with firms to lift the £700 cap on compensation which could be offered to those stuck without power.
The change will allow those affected to claim £70 for each 12-hour period they have no electricity, after an initial £70 for the first 48 hours of any cut.
A spokesperson for the ENA said that operators were ‘working together’ to prepare for the coming Storm Barra.
He said: ‘We’re monitoring forecasts regularly, coordinating response plans and preparing to share resources if required.’
MORE : Storm Barra named as UK prepares for heavy snow and 70mph winds
MORE : Thousands of homes facing second week without power and second storm
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