AS THE deadline looms for people to claim their payments from EDF Energy for the massive powercut in July, it has been revealed people may be entitled to claim more than the company’s “goodwill” payment.

People have three months to the day, to claim a payment from the energy company for the outage which plunged thousands of homes in Bexley, Orpington and Dartford into darkness for up to four days.

The power loss was caused by intruders who broke into an EDF compound in Dartford where four major cables are carried across Dartford Creek on a bridge, causing a fire which badly damaged the cables.

At the time, EDF publicly claimed Ofgem had classified the incident as “exceptional”, which exempted the energy company from having to make payments under the Guaranteed Standards of Performance Regulations.

Instead the company offered a £50 goodwill payment to anyone continuously without power for 24 hours.

Under the regulations, people without power for 18 hours are entitled to £50, or £100 for businesses, plus an additional £25 for every subsequent 12 hours.

But Ofgem’s networks team is currently considering the results of an investigation into the incident by an independent auditor.

One of the matters under consideration is whether EDF should carry some of the blame for incident.

In the meantime, Ofgem says people still applying for payment should make their claim under the Guaranteed Standards of Performance Regulations.

EDF says it discussed the situation with Ofgem and is not aware of any outstanding issues.

A spokeswoman said: “In our view, under the legislation, this incident was clearly exempt from the Guaranteed Standards of Performance.”

Bexley Council, which has challenged EDF’s claim the incident was exceptional, is urging everyone who is entitled to claim to do so.

People whose power was restored on July 21 have until October 21; July 22, until October 22; July 23 until October 23 and July 24 until October 24.

Anyone refused payment under the regulations, and anyone who feels they were misled into claiming the goodwill payment instead of the tariff of payments under the regulations, can complain to EDF and, if they are dissatisfied with the company’s response, they can complain to the Energy Ombudsman.