To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with energy companies on ensuring that electricity supplies are not disrupted to the extent that they were over the Christmas period in the event of further adverse weather events.

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Mr Davey, my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Verma, and I met the Distribution Network Operators, Energy Networks Association, Ofgem and Energy Emergencies Executive Committee on 8 January to discuss the recent disruptions to electricity supply as a result of severe weather. At that meeting the Secretary of State commissioned a review of the response. The review will focus on communications with household energy customers, necessary resources to be able to cope with widespread disruption, and the compensation process. There was also agreement to investigate as quickly as possible the setting up of an emergency telephone number which households can call if they experience a power cut. This review will report back to the Secretary of State within two months.