Ofgem is to investigate the response of Scottish and Southern Electric (SSE) and UK Power Networks (UKPN) to the storms that left thousands of homes without power last Christmas. About 16,000 homes were left without electricity following the winter storms, which battered the east coast of England and Scotland. Ofgem said most homes were reconnected within 24 hours. But SSE and UKPN failed to reconnect power to 500 homes for over five days. The regulator criticised the energy firms for the way they handled customer inquiries. It said one in five callers to UKPN and SSE hung up the phone before speaking to a customer adviser. Ofgem added that all energy companies would be required to conduct a review of their response to the severe winter weather and report back the lessons they had learned within two months. About 26,000 customers be could be entitled to a total of £2m in guaranteed standards compensation following the Christmas storms, Ofgem said. SSE is expected to make 67% of those compensation payments with UKPN responsible for a further 26%....Read more here