PRESSURE is mounting on the power company at the centre of Bexley’s worst power cut for 30 years, to pay compensation to the biggest losers.

EDF Energy says it will only pay £50 to businesses and residents who were left without power for more than three days last month, when the cables supplying electricity to up to 100,000 homes were damaged by fire.

Kent police are hunting those responsible for breaking into the site in Dartford where vandals or thieves chiselled off industrial padlocks to get to a bridge across dartford creek which carried the four cables.

EDF struck a deal with regulator Ofgem to categorise the incident as an “exceptional event” which meant the company was not liable for any payment.

However, as a “gesture of goodwill” it has offered £50 to anyone left without power continuously for 24 hours.

Bexley Council leader Councillor Teresa O’Neill says EDF Energy should now change its mind on the compensation issue and “do the decent thing”.

She said: “People now know how much the power cut cost them.

“Lots of businesses were unable to open, others had to pay for generators and lots of residents had to throw away food.

“For some residents, the cost of the claim was less than their insurance excess and others had no insurance at all.”

Cllr O’Neill added: “I will be pressing the regulator to approve compensation for the businesses worst affected and residents who suffered significant loss.”

David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, says there are still unanswered questions about the incident.

He has written to Ofgem, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Milliband, as well as Mr Milliband’s shadow Greg Clark, and Kent police.

meanwhile Dartford resident Rosanna currans of Brent lane, Dartford has started her own campaign to win compensation.

She said: “I am campaigning to get EDF to raise their £50 'goodwill' offer, and I am also lobbying Ofgem, to get it to decide this incident was within EDF's control, in which case more compensation would be payable.”

She has launched a petition which has so far attracted 900 signatures and set up a campaign website at tinyurl.com/edf-power/

Bexley has organised a series of events where council staff will be present to help people make their £50 claims to EDF Energy, including a letter for people to send.

The first is at Slade Green Community Centre, Bridge Road, Slade Green, tomorrow (September 27) from 2pm to 6pm.