British power company triples storm payouts

One of the UK's biggest power distributors has promised to almost triple compensation for people affected by long-term power cuts following the Christmas storms which swept Britain.

UK Power Networks, which owns electricity lines and cables in London, the South East and east of England, said it will increase payments from £27 to £75 as “a gesture of goodwill”, with more than 1,700 homes in Kent, Surrey and Sussex still without electricity last night.