Energy network operators have been slammed for their response to Storm Arwen.
Hundreds of homes across Dumfries and Galloway were left without power for several days after the region was battered by strong winds at the end of November.
That prompted the UK Government to order a review of how the networks responded.
And while an interim report for the Department of Business acknowledges it was “an exceptionally severe storm”, it also “brought unacceptably long power cuts to some households, especially those in rural areas”.
The report calls on operators to enhance their “strategies to reduce the length of time a small number of customers remain off supply” following bad weather.
It also found that mobile generators are “critical” to reducing the length of power cuts but there are “limitations to the value and practicality of their use”.
As a result, it is suggested there should be a review of the way generators are deployed during storms.
Many residents in Dumfries and Galloway were furious with the accuracy and frequency of communication from Scottish Power Energy Networks over when their power would be restored.
And the report has found that estimated times for electricity supplies to be repaired were “optimistic” due to the number and complexity of the faults, while wait times for some customers trying to contact their operator were “unacceptably high”.
It is recommended that “more needs to be done to manage both the method and content of customer communications”.
New processes should also be put in place to reduce the time people have to wait for compensation.
The final report of both reviews is expected to be published at the end of March.
