R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Millions of households were at a risk of power cuts during January 2013. Shutdown was only avoided because a gas-fired station due to close by next winter came to the rescue.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/379845/Blackout-Britain-EU-environmental-directive-puts-millions-at-risk-of-power-cuts

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This seems serious. We shouldn't be living like this in one of the richest countries.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

We had a power cut, week before last, which lasted about half an hour.
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John W

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

It's nothing new.
Peak winter capacity to meet demand of both electricity and gas has been knife-edge for several years. Heavy industrial users have had their supply interrupted in order to ensure our lights, TVs and computers don't go off.

Both this and the last government have vacillated over the replacement of old, inefficient or environmentally unacceptable (to the EU) power stations, to the point where most of the companies, which are now foreign-owned, have pulled out. The margin of comfort was supposed to be 14% this year, and just 5% next - now is a good time to stock up on candles - much more romantic than energy-saving bulbs anyway.

Not only power stations are creaking under the strain, but the distribution infrastructure is too, and companies like National Grid and Western Power Distribution (who bought E.on's Central Networks) are unwilling to pay to renew it without a lot of government (ie, taxpayers) help. That is why short power cuts are becoming much more frequent.
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Ron

Fog on the Tyne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1095

Years of under investment in nuclear power - the French have invested wisely while we've been put off by scaremongering and NIMBYs.
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The wheel keeps on turning...
This fool made it round.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester