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More on Power in UK
Oct. 7th, 2008 10:49 amFrom the London Times
National Grid Overhaul and Upgrade
Possible Increase in Energy Costs
The National Grid is working on upgrading the grid -- needs an overhaul and room for future growth. Good that they're working on it, but it's going to cost. And it won't all be happening at once of course, as it takes time to overhaul something this large and complex.
National Grid reports that they have enough power for the winter, as long as nothing unforeseen happens (unusual cold snap, etc.) -- but their margin for November is less than 1/10th what it normally is. Let's hope that the weather is mild next month!
Meanwhile, the cost of power is already high enough that some British factories are in trouble and may have to close down next month. There is one bit of good news for residential consumers, and that's that the National Grid has frozen prices until January.
***
Of course my focus on the UK is because of the Daily Mail article that popped up on Energy Bulletin, but they aren't the only folks with stressed utility networks or high energy prices. ISO New England and the various power utilities here are having to work on improving the grid here as well, because demand has grown to the point where it's been taxing the system for several years. One of the reasons our electric bills have gone up (not the only one, but an important one).
No, I haven't found any articles on possible power outages in New England -- haven't looked quite frankly. At the moment I'm concerned with the more immediate problem a lot of folks are going to have this year, of being able to afford to heat their homes. Ashfield's having a meeting about that tonight in fact.
National Grid Overhaul and Upgrade
Possible Increase in Energy Costs
The National Grid is working on upgrading the grid -- needs an overhaul and room for future growth. Good that they're working on it, but it's going to cost. And it won't all be happening at once of course, as it takes time to overhaul something this large and complex.
National Grid reports that they have enough power for the winter, as long as nothing unforeseen happens (unusual cold snap, etc.) -- but their margin for November is less than 1/10th what it normally is. Let's hope that the weather is mild next month!
Meanwhile, the cost of power is already high enough that some British factories are in trouble and may have to close down next month. There is one bit of good news for residential consumers, and that's that the National Grid has frozen prices until January.
***
Of course my focus on the UK is because of the Daily Mail article that popped up on Energy Bulletin, but they aren't the only folks with stressed utility networks or high energy prices. ISO New England and the various power utilities here are having to work on improving the grid here as well, because demand has grown to the point where it's been taxing the system for several years. One of the reasons our electric bills have gone up (not the only one, but an important one).
No, I haven't found any articles on possible power outages in New England -- haven't looked quite frankly. At the moment I'm concerned with the more immediate problem a lot of folks are going to have this year, of being able to afford to heat their homes. Ashfield's having a meeting about that tonight in fact.
