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| Growing risk of power blackouts within 18 months, says Ofgem | Growing risk of power blackouts within 18 months, says Ofgem |
| (3 months later) | |
| The risk of power blackouts in Britain within 18 months has doubled since a year ago, according to the energy watchdog. | The risk of power blackouts in Britain within 18 months has doubled since a year ago, according to the energy watchdog. |
| Ofgem's warning increases pressure on the government to promote investment in infrastructure at a time when companies are closing gas- and coal-fired plants and consumers fear even higher bills. | Ofgem's warning increases pressure on the government to promote investment in infrastructure at a time when companies are closing gas- and coal-fired plants and consumers fear even higher bills. |
| Ed Davey, the energy secretary, said he was putting in place measures to counter the threat but admitted: "Without timely action there would be risks to security of supply." | Ed Davey, the energy secretary, said he was putting in place measures to counter the threat but admitted: "Without timely action there would be risks to security of supply." |
| Ofgem said the margins between electricity supply and demand could tighten to as low as 2% by 2015/16, although it said disruption to supply was not "imminent or likely" as long as industry managed the situation carefully. | Ofgem said the margins between electricity supply and demand could tighten to as low as 2% by 2015/16, although it said disruption to supply was not "imminent or likely" as long as industry managed the situation carefully. |
| Among the measures proposed is that the National Grid, which runs power transmission lines, can ask businesses to reduce their electricity use at times of peak demand, something that could cost industry dearly. | Among the measures proposed is that the National Grid, which runs power transmission lines, can ask businesses to reduce their electricity use at times of peak demand, something that could cost industry dearly. |
| There are also plans to find ways of encouraging the large power companies to keep generating plants on standby for emergency supply situations. | There are also plans to find ways of encouraging the large power companies to keep generating plants on standby for emergency supply situations. |
| "Ofgem's analysis indicates a faster than anticipated tightening of electricity margins toward the middle of this decade," said Andrew Wright, the regulator's chief executive. "Ofgem, together with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and National Grid, think it is prudent to consider giving National Grid additional tools now to procure electricity supplies to protect consumers as the margin between available supply and demand tightens in the mid-decade." | "Ofgem's analysis indicates a faster than anticipated tightening of electricity margins toward the middle of this decade," said Andrew Wright, the regulator's chief executive. "Ofgem, together with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and National Grid, think it is prudent to consider giving National Grid additional tools now to procure electricity supplies to protect consumers as the margin between available supply and demand tightens in the mid-decade." |
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