AN MP has called for ministers to step into the row over the July powercut which left thousands of people without electricity for up to three days.

Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett called an adjournment debate in the House of Commons last week to press junior energy and climate change minister David Kidney for changes to the current regulations which have allowed energy company EDF Energy to bypass regulations and offer only limited payments to those affected, by claiming exceptional circumstances.

He was also unhappy that those who were without power for 24 hours were being offered the same pay-out by EDF as those without power for more than three days.

Mr Evennett questioned the lack of security at the Dartford EDF site where suspected metal thieves were able to break in unseen and cause the fire which damaged the cables.

He also said the £50 offered by EDF was inadequate in comparison to people’s losses.

Mr Kidney said since the incident, EDF had installed 24-hour security at each end of the Dartford cable bridge until additional security can be put into place and it was also looking at how to reroute some or all of the cables.

He promised to look again at the Standards of Performance Regulations and suggested anyone who disputed EDF’s declared exemption from the regulations, should complain to EDF and then to the energy ombudsman.

An Ofgem decision on the power cut and whether EDF was entitled to claim "extraordinary incident" is expected to be made in the next few weeks.

If Ofgem rukles against EDF, it could potentially cost the energy company millions in lost revenue.

Meanwhile people trying to claim cash from the energy company whose power supplies to thousands were disrupted in July, say its payment process is a shambles.

A number of people have contacted News Shopper and MPs to claim they have been refused EDF Energy’s offer of a £50 goodwill payment, while their neighbours have been paid the money.

Brian Hamer, 61, who lives in Bradenham Avenue, Welling, was furious to be told he was not entitled to a payment because EDF claimed he was 18 minutes outside the 24-hours continuously without a power supply qualification.

He was even angrier when he discovered his neighbours had been paid.

William and Frances Brown from Swanton Road, Erith, are another couple who were furious to be turned down for the payment when neighbours have been paid.

Mr Brown says they were told neighbours were paid “by mistake” and EDF would be asking for the money back.

EDF admits mistakes were made earlier in the claims process and says “a few payments were made in error”.

A spokesman said: “We now have a more robust system in place to avoid this happening again.”

Claims for the £50 goodwill payment for anyone continuously without power for 24 hours have to be received by EDF by Saturday (October 31).