Thousands of people still survive without electricity eight days after Storm Arwen caused massive damage to the grid in parts of the UK.

The latest national figures from the industry body Energy Networks Association (ENA) showed that around 9,200 homes were without power on Friday evening.

Residents are now bracing for near freezing temperatures, with parts of northern England and Scotland expected to experience lows of 1C (34F) as well as sleet and rain over the next 24 hours.

The affected areas are unlikely to see the temperature rise above 7C (45F).

The long delays prompted energy regulator Ofgem to warn it would take coercive action against grid companies that failed to restore electricity to customers soon enough after the storm.

He also agreed with the companies to lift the limit of £ 700 on the compensation that could be given to customers.

The change will allow those affected to claim £ 70 for every 12 hour period without electricity, after an initial amount of £ 70 for the first 48 hours.

Managing Director Jonathan Brearley told BBC Radio 4: “We are deeply concerned about customers who have been without power for more than a week.

“We want to establish the facts and make sure we understand what happened, if the network companies fulfilled their obligations. If they haven’t, we will take enforcement action.

“We have clear expectations as to how quickly they should get people back to the system.

“We recognize the difficult circumstances these companies find themselves in. But what we expect from network companies is to be relentless in connecting people, but also to build support.”

He then told BBC Breakfast: “One thing that we have already done is that we have told the network companies, and they have agreed, they have lifted the cap on the compensation that they will give to customers and they will ensure that these clients receive compensation for everything they have been through.

The Defense Ministry said 297 members of the British Army and Royal Marines are supporting civil authorities and carrying out door-to-door checks on vulnerable people in their homes and reassuring local communities.

Eighty soldiers from the 4th Royal Artillery based at Alan Brook Barracks in Topcliffe deployed to Northumberland on Saturday to check on vulnerable people and identify where further support is needed, according to a statement.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said, “Our dedicated military personnel are working alongside civilian authorities to provide critical support to communities affected by Storm Arwen.

“The ability to deploy quickly anywhere in the UK, where help is needed, makes us all more secure and allows us to protect the most vulnerable in our society. “

Provider Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said 950 properties were without power as of 10 p.m. Friday.

Northern Powergrid has announced that 5,100 customers, out of 240,000 who have lost power, have not yet been connected.

Western Power Distribution still had 254 without power while Electricity North West, which provides power for an area between the Scottish border and Stockport, said 700 properties were without power as of 8 p.m. Friday evening.

Meanwhile, SP Energy Networks said it has restored power to the 200,000 customers who have been disconnected.