An electricity firm has apologised to customers who have had to put up with five power cuts within a few months.

EDF Energy Networks said the cuts in the North Chailey area early this year were not related and were caused by unexpected incidents.

It has sent letters explaining the situation and offering some customers compensation.

Lewes MP Norman Baker, who complained to EDF on their behalf, said: "I am glad that I have been able to secure this apology from EDF on behalf of my North Chailey constituents. Indeed, some of my constituents have now been given £50 in compensation for the loss of electricity supply that they suffered.

"I note from the letter that EDF is now taking the needs of the people of the north of my constituency seriously and that they have now restored the power network in the area to normal running conditions. The most important matter now is that they work to ensure that there is no repetition of these power cuts."

EDF admitted that more than 450,000 households lost power when overhead lines were damaged in a storm on January 18. There was an underground cable fault near Chailey Heritage School on February 25 and during the weekend of March 31 there were three unrelated faults on the overhead high voltage power lines and sections of underground cable.

EDF said it was very unusual to have three faults and that it had been difficult to restore power.

Last month the customer relations team wrote to 40 customers who were without power for more than 18 hours to explain what happened and make a Guaranteed Standards payment.

Under rules by industry regulator Ofgem, customers without power for more than 18 hours can claim £50 for a household or £100 for a business.

EDF also offered £50 as a goodwill gesture to 17 customers who lost power for just under 18 hours.

A spokesman said: "We are unable to guarantee an uninterrupted power supply as faults occur for a number of reasons, some of which are beyond our direct control, such as bad weather.

"EDF Energy is the largest power distribution business in the UK. The company transmits electricity to a quarter of the UK's population through its cables and substations, including homes and businesses in Chailey.

"We are constantly working to improve the performance of our network and to meet future needs for power. The company's £400million investment in its electricity networks this year is part of a projected investment of approximately £2billion over the five years to 2010."