Nuns' convent power cut struggle

E.On said it could not provide generators to all customers affected

Nuns at a Leicestershire convent have said they will struggle to find £1,000 to hire a generator to run medical equipment during a planned power cut.

E.On is cutting supplies to the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace on Station Road, Rearsby, for up to five hours later to allow cable repairs.

The sisters said they had asked for help as continuous power is needed for its frail elderly unit.

E.On said it was not able to provide a temporary generator.

The convent houses elderly nuns, including three who are bedridden and dependent on special electrically-powered beds to prevent sores.

Urgent work

The nuns said the seven days notice given was not enough and added the cost of the generator would have to come out of funds they use to do charitable work.

Sister Bridgetta Rooney said: "To us in our situation and in the work we try to do to keep our frail elderly in our house, it's quite a lot [of money] and in the credit crunch it's quite serious."

E.On said 140 customers will be affected by the planned cuts and the company could not supply generators to individuals.

A spokesman said: "On this occasion we are not able to provide a generator, but we are giving the customers as much assistance as we can.

"Our engineers will be on the ground to help the nuns and the convent to plug in their own generator and make sure everybody is safe.

"In order to continue the work we do to provide a safe and reliable energy supply every now and then we have to do some work on that and unfortunately it's never a good time."