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Who turned the lights out?

10 June 2008

Five years ago serious power cuts in London and the west Midlands, which together left nearly three-quarters of a million customers off supply and disrupted rail and underground services, prompted serious questions about the resilience of the power
network. The events prompted both an Ofgem and a DTI (now Berr) investigation. Plus a Parliamentary probe.


Last month, of course, there was both a major blackout and a second low-voltage event that affected large areas of England, leaving half a million off supply and forcing National Grid to issue various warnings.
Ofgem has asked for a report from National Grid, which is due with the regulator soon. Whether it will be made public has still to be decided. Whether it will prompt further action by the regulator is also a moot point.
As for Berr, well, ministers and the department seem to be sitting on their hands. No statement. And definitely no action.
Are they, wonders Disconnector, in denial? Or haven't they clocked what has happened?

Tags: Berr, DTI

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