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Scottish Government vows lessons will be learned in wake of Storm Arwen while Moray MP Douglas Ross welcomes Ofgem review into network companies' emergency response


By Lorna Thompson

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SCOTLAND'S Deputy First Minister John Swinney says resilience lessons will be learned in the wake of Storm Arwen.

This follows an announcement on Friday by energy regulator Ofgem that it is launching a review focusing on the role of the network companies in maintaining the resilience of the system and their emergency response, including their communications with customers.

Mr Swinney said today: "Storm Arwen has been a more significant event than the 'Beast from the East' in 2018, requiring a complexity of response that we have not seen for a number of years.

"This has been a really difficult time, and there are lessons for all of us to learn. That is why I announced the Scottish Government will lead, through our resilience arrangements, a lessons-learned exercise.

"A key theme of these lessons will be around communication.

"Telecoms, in particular, have faced significant challenges due to Storm Arwen, and that is something we want to address for the future."

Work to restore power in the wake of Storm Arwen.
Work to restore power in the wake of Storm Arwen.

Moray MP Douglas Ross welcomed the Ofgem review, saying: "Many areas of Moray were badly hit as a result of Storm Arwen, losing power, water supply and mobile phone networks.

"I appreciate that the electricity companies had a huge task trying to restore power, but in Moray it has taken far too long.

"Ofgem have made it clear that they will pursue enforcement action if their review finds any failings in the energy firms' response to the power outages caused by Storm Arwen.

"The other good news is that Ofgem has removed the limit on compensation, meaning that those most affected could now receive up to £140 a day for each day they are without power.

"I look forward to seeing​ Ofgem’s report and hope that lessons are learned so that people in Moray and elsewhere never have to face the extended blackouts that we've seen this time."

Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem's chief executive, said: "We are launching a review into how the storm has been handled. We have strict rules on how network companies need to operate in these circumstances, and we will take action if needed."

Meanwhile, Storm Barra is set to sweep in tomorrow afternoon, bringing strong winds and rain, with rain turning to snow across northern England and Scotland.


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