Ministers criticised energy bosses yesterday over their unconcern about 150,000 homes being left without power after severe storms this Christmas.

Energy committee chairman Tim Yeo blasted the companies for exploiting their "privileged monopoly position" and displaying "a neglect of your customers."

UK Power Networks chief executive Basil Scarsella made excuses to MPs, claiming that the combination of the storms' severity and their national reach meant that "tried and tested" plans struggled to cope.