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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/15/national-grid-winter-capacity-lowest-in-eight-years
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| National Grid winter capacity lowest in eight years | National Grid winter capacity lowest in eight years |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| National Grid has said it is more likely to draw on additional sources of power to keep electricity running after winter capacity fell to its lowest for almost a decade. | National Grid has said it is more likely to draw on additional sources of power to keep electricity running after winter capacity fell to its lowest for almost a decade. |
| The operator of pipes and pylons said it had enlisted power stations to provide extra electricity and asked companies to be ready to reduce their output to help meet demand at peak times. The measures will cost the average electricity customer less than 50p a year, it added. | The operator of pipes and pylons said it had enlisted power stations to provide extra electricity and asked companies to be ready to reduce their output to help meet demand at peak times. The measures will cost the average electricity customer less than 50p a year, it added. |
| Related: Ofgem warns of blackouts as it predicts grid's spare capacity could fall to zero | |
| The electricity capacity margin – the difference between expected peak demand and available supply – will be 5.1% including the additional capacity. The figure is the lowest since 2007-08 when it was 4.4%. Last year, the equivalent figure was 6.1%, or 4.1% without including the additional capacity. | |
| In its winter report, National Grid said: “The winter view analysis has informed our procurement of additional contingency balancing reserve. These additional balancing services are in place and there is an increased likelihood we will use these tools to help us balance the system over the winter period. | In its winter report, National Grid said: “The winter view analysis has informed our procurement of additional contingency balancing reserve. These additional balancing services are in place and there is an increased likelihood we will use these tools to help us balance the system over the winter period. |
| “We expect electricity margins to be tight but manageable for this winter. We have procured our contingency balancing services which we may need to use in order to help us balance the system.” | “We expect electricity margins to be tight but manageable for this winter. We have procured our contingency balancing services which we may need to use in order to help us balance the system.” |
| National Grid has faced criticism for allowing a fall in spare capacity. This winter it will have less breathing space after closures and reduction in output at a number of power stations. | National Grid has faced criticism for allowing a fall in spare capacity. This winter it will have less breathing space after closures and reduction in output at a number of power stations. |
| Peak demand periods are expected to be weekdays between November and February. Demand will be at its highest in mid-December, and supply will be tightest in the weeks beginning 26 October and 11 January, National Grid said. | Peak demand periods are expected to be weekdays between November and February. Demand will be at its highest in mid-December, and supply will be tightest in the weeks beginning 26 October and 11 January, National Grid said. |
| “We currently expect there to be sufficient generation and interconnector imports to meet even the tightest week,” it added. | “We currently expect there to be sufficient generation and interconnector imports to meet even the tightest week,” it added. |