...as families face cold weather power cuts Near-miss highlights fears that supplies may not be able to cope with increased demand
HUNDREDS of thousands of homes across the UK came within hours of power
cuts after the National Grid issued an emergency call for electricity
companies to reduce demand on one of the coldest days of the year.
The companies were preparing to cut power or dim the lights on Thursday
by lowering the voltage, after the grid issued a warning of a possible
problem between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. Power generators were told to make
more power available on the system, while distribution companies were
informed that if no more power were made available they might have to
cut some customers off temporarily. The highly unusual shortage comes
as fears mount over the security of Britain’s energy supplies. There
was also concern that there was insufficient capacity, even though most
industry was still on a Christmas break.
Power cuts to households are supposed to be a last resort and the
National Grid said this year that even in an extremely cold winter they
could be avoided. Big energy users in industry are supposed to be cut
off first in the event of a power crisis. The first warning that the
grid’s safety margin was depleted came early Thursday morning, but by
breakfast time the warning had been increased to a high risk of demand
reduction order. The order was cancelled at 6pm on Thursday when it
became clear that demand would not be as high as feared.
About 40 per cent of Britain’s power stations will be due for
retirement in the next 15 years, as all but one of the nuclear power
stations are decommissioned and older coal-fired power stations are
closed because of new European Union directives on pollution. Britain
has also become a net importer of gas, because North Sea supplies have
been running out more quickly than expected.
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Complete article The Times
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