EASTLEIGH MP LAMBASTS ENERGY COMPANY FOR REPEATED POWER CUTS

3.49.19pm GMT Fri 29th Jan 2010

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has lambasted Southern Electricity for failing to stop repeated power cuts that are threatening business and job prospects in the town.

Mr Huhne has written to the chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy - the Southern Electricity parent - to complain about five power cuts in the town centre since the end of December that have resulted in lost business for the 26 shops affected. This is about a quarter of the shops in the two main shopping streets of Eastleigh town centre.

"It's time to put a bit of spark into Southern Electric, who do not appear to realise the damage and disruption that these power cuts are causing in Eastleigh" said Mr Huhne. "Three years ago there was a similar problem which was not sorted out until there was a small explosion in the cable".

Mr Huhne said that five power cuts in little more than a month in a busy commercial area was the sort of pattern that fell well short of the standards of service that users were entitled to expect. He warns that the power cuts are likely to damage businesses and job prospects in the town if allowed to continue.