Electricity to be rationed: Power cuts in 2 years unless
industry cuts back, warns regulator
Britain could face a return to Seventies-style power
rationing to prevent blackouts. The disturbing news came amid warnings that the country may
not be producing enough energy to keep the lights on by 2015. Offices and factories could be ‘bribed’ to close for up to
four hours a day during the winter to prevent households losing power.
Energy regulator Ofgem said the country faced an ‘unprecedented challenge’ as
coal-fired plants are closed by European Union diktats on the environment.
* Diktats from EU are forcing closure of
old coal-fired power stations
* They push out
carbon dioxide which is blamed for climate change
* UK slow to build
new nuclear power stations to replace old generators
* Chief Secretary to
the Treasury promises £10billion for new power plant
* Offices and
factories could be 'bribed' to close for up to four hours a day
In addition, nuclear power stations, which produced 26 per cent of Britain’s
electricity when Labour was elected in 1997, now account for just 18 per cent.
Ministers say the previous government failed to protect our
energy supply by commissioning replacements for ageing reactors.
Yesterday Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury,
promised £10billion for a new plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset that could
power five million homes.
French firm EDF had demanded government cash to put towards
the £14billion reactor.
That funding was revealed as part of a £100billion package
to build new roads, railways, houses and schools, in a bid to create jobs and
stimulate the economy.
Ministers also announced measures backing two controversial
sources, wind farms and shale gas.
The plans were announced as Ofgem warned that the gap
between household demand for energy and the amount our power stations can
supply is dangerously small.
* Blackout: Britain could face a return to Seventies-stye
power rationing, energy regulator Ofgem has warned
* Warnings: Pictured: Hinkley Point nuclear power station.
Ofgem said the country may not produce enough energy to keep the lights on by
2015
* Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has
promised £10billion for a new plant at Hinkley Point
* Unprecedented challenge: Coal-fired power stations are being
closed because of EU diktats
* Fears: The gap between the amount of electricity that the
nation's power stations can supply and the demand from homes and businesses is
getting dangerously low.
* Electricity pylons: If nothing is done to head off the
crisis, the risk of a blackout increases from the current figure of one in 47
years to as little as one in four years
The regulator warned of ‘faster than anticipated tightening
of electricity margins towards the middle of this decade’.
It forecast that with no major action to head off the
crisis, the risk of blackouts would increase from the current chance of one in
47 years to as little as one in four.
To prevent an energy crisis, Ofgem yesterday announced new
powers for National Grid, which could come into effect before the end of this
year.
Under the most radical measure, businesses that sign up to a
deal with National Grid will be told to shut down between 4pm and 8pm on cold
evenings.
National Grid, which has a budget of up to £800million to
help control demand, will compensate firms for the energy they do not use at
well-above the market rate of about £50 per Megawatt hour (MWh).
Rewards would range from £500 to £15,000 per MWh.
Officials claim the closures would not unduly
inconvenience factories and firms, as they could open on Saturday mornings to
catch up on lost work.
The new rules unveiled yesterday would also let National Grid resurrect
mothballed power plants to boost supply.
Andrew Wright, Ofgem’s chief executive, said: ‘Britain’s
energy industry is facing an unprecedented challenge to secure supplies... it
is prudent to consider giving National Grid additional tools now to protect
consumers as the margin between available supply and demand tightens in the
mid-decade.’
A Grid spokesman added: ‘We have been working with the
Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Ofgem to consider what
measures we can take... We are consulting on these two services with the
industry.
‘This does not mean that disruption is imminent or likely,
but Ofgem, DECC and ourselves believe it appropriate to consider what
measures could be taken in case margins deteriorate further.’
DECC said it supports the plans, but questioned the
figures behind Ofgem’s blackout warnings.
(Source)
-----------------------------------------------
OFFICIAL LINKS
OFFICIAL LINKS
* Facebook: National-Anarchist Movement Central Group (N-AM)
* Facebook: National-Anarchist Earth & Animal Activism Network
* Facebook: National-Anarchist Permaculture Information Network* Facebook: National-Anarchist Earth & Animal Activism Network
* Facebook: National-Anarchist Survivalist and Preparedness Circle
* Facebook: National-Anarchist Spanish Speaking Resistance
* Contacts: N-AM Links