How to claim up to £2,000 if you have a power cut due to Storm Ciarán

There’s a chance of power cuts due to the stormy weather (Picture: Getty)

The south east of England is bracing itself for strong winds as Storm Ciarán approaches.

The storm is set to batter the UK, with amber warnings in place and a number of flights to the Channel Islands already cancelled.

High winds and rain overnight have already flooded streets, closed down schools, ripped roofs clean off, and blocked roads and rail lines with fallen trees (and escaped trampolines) across the UK.

Read the latest updates on Storm Ciarán on our live blog

The Met Office says to expect ‘damage to buildings and homes’, with ‘power lines and trees brought down’, and even warn flying debris could result in a ‘danger to life’.

But what should you do if your home loses power during Storm Ciarán?

Consumer champions Which? say people who lose power during bad weather can be entitled to up to £2,000 in compensation.

Power cuts can cause wide-ranging issues if they last longer than a few minutes, including food spoiling in the fridge or freezer, or struggling to keep in touch with others as electronic devices are unable to be charged.

People have been rescued from their holiday chalets in Dorset this morning (Picture: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

Which? says you can claim £80 compensation if your power is out for more than 48 hours.

However, this amount increases by £40 for every additional six hours you are left without power, to a maximum of £2,000.

And Citizens Advice has shared how exactly to claim this cash – though the advice and process differs depending on which country you’re in.

If you’re in England, Citizens Advice says: ‘Your electricity network operator will transfer the money into your bank account or send you a cheque.

More: Trending

‘They might need to contact you first to make sure they have the right details.’

They add that your electricity network operator – not your energy supplier – should try to contact you and pay you the correct amount without you needing to make a claim.

Sometimes power cuts can be pre-planned by operators to carry out maintenance work, but in the case of unplanned cuts such as those caused by storms you can call 105 for free.

They can then put you in touch with your operator who can offer help and advice.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.