He was speaking after it emerged that almost 65,000 people remained without electricity on Monday morning (27 January), three days after the red weather warning.

The Upper Bann MLA said: “I want to express my sincere thanks to the heroic front-line workers who have been working tirelessly to restore energy supplies and care for the vulnerable in the most challenging of circumstances over the weekend. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.

“Many thousands of households have been left in a dire position with lack of electricity, heat, internet access, and even water, for prolonged periods. Significant costs have occurred with some having to relocate or throw out food.

“Energy companies in Scotland have already announced that they will step up to provide compensation payments to customers impacted. I would urge Northern Ireland Electricity and their counterparts to follow their lead and make appropriate compensation payments to those households who have been so severely impacted.”