HUNDREDS of Alway residents were left without electricity on Thursday evening for more than an hour for the third time this week due to a temporary generator failure.

The temporary generator, which was being used while new equipment was being installed at Quilter Close, also broke down on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

Western Power Distribution has apologised for the inconvenience and said that the work is due to be finished today.

Lucy Smith wrote on the Argus Facebook page: “We have had a letter saying it would be off on Friday, but they haven’t told us they would be working on it and problems could arise.

“It’s ridiculous, my food has gone off in fridge and my kids weren’t able to settle as they were scared.

“Besides, my electric meter has blown so I don’t know when it’s going to run out.

“It’s an absolute joke, this is out of order. I’ve put a complaint in.”

Moggie Mills, who lives in Aberthaw Road, said: “This has been a nightmare from the start, intermittent power outages are not on, and they should have made sure the equipment was adequate to start with.

“It has been a horrible week, not knowing at what point the power will go off.”

A Western Power Distribution spokeswoman said: “We would like to apologise any inconvenience caused to customers in the Alway area of Newport, who were affected by loss of supply in Quilter Close and parts of Sullivan Circle last night.

“Unfortunately, a temporary generator being used to maintain supplies while new substation equipment is being installed at Quilter Close broke down at 19.56 affecting 205 customers.

“Our engineers were quickly on site and replaced the temporary generator, all customers were back on supply 21.15.

“Work at the substation is due to be completed today.

“We have notified those customers that will be off supply for a short period of time today while supplies are reconnected at the substation.”

The spokeswoman said that, at around noon on Thursday, there was a fault on the National Grid Supergrid at Rassau, Ebbw Vale.

This fault affected some of Western Power Distribution’s customers in Gilfach, Bargoed, Aberbargoed, Blaina, Trevethin, Pontypool, Abergavenny, Blackwood, Blaenavon, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and Cefn Fforest.