This week’s troublesome winter weather left thousands of residents without power, some of them for more than 40 hours. Electricity had been restored for most by Thursday, but they can still claim compensation from their power suppliers.
“They have to fill out an application form that’s available on our website,” Thor Bjørn Omnes of Skagerak Energi told state broadcaster NRK. “If they don’t have Internet access they can call our customer service center.”
Skagerak Energi was among suppliers hit the hardest by the storms in Vestfold and Grenland. Some homes in Lardal and Sandefjord were without power for several days. Storms dumped record amounts of snow in some areas, while winds reached hurricane force in several parts of the country.
State consumer advocates noted that compensation can be claimed when power is cut for 12 hours or more. Customers can receive NOK 600 for the first 24 hours, NOK 1,400 for power cuts from 24- to 48 hours, NOK 2,700 for cuts of 48- 72 hours and NOK 1,300 for every new 24-hour period over 72 hours.
Omnes said it was a “simple process” and that customers have up to three months in which to file claims. Skagerak was still scrambling on Thursday to chop down trees close to power lines, repair damaged components and scrape ice away from lines and transformers.
newsinenglish.no staff
