Grid promise to consumers: 'No power cuts'

MARY FAGAN

and PETER VICTOR

The National Grid last night promised consumers: "There will be no power cuts tonight or in the foreseeable future." A grid spokesman rejected what he called "media scare stories" and said that, barring unforeseen circumstances - "like a jumbo jet coming down on power lines or an act of terrorism" - there was no likelihood of power cuts.

The spokesman added: "We have worked with the regional electricity companies and generators and they have co-operated very well. We have enough power and enough reserves.

Electricity generators sought to dispel growing alarm over the possibility of power cuts during a spate of freezing weather. Record demand caused by the freezing weather sweeping across Britain had fuelled fears that consumers might suffer electricity blackouts.

A spokesman for the Consumers' Association said: "Consumers pay hundreds of pounds a year to private monopolies for a reliable service and it beggars belief that these companies cannot allow for the fact of the UK having cold winters."

Labour's consumer affairs spokesman, Nigel Griffiths, said the public was suffering a crisis of confidence in the newly privatised National Grid: "We have to ask what power companies have been doing with all the money they have earned in recent times. If they have to turn the voltage down or cut people off, then public confidence will disappear completely."

Offer, the electricity watchdog, has called on the generators to explain their part in the power supply problem and to ask what safeguards are in place when gas supplies to generating stations fail. The move by the watchdog came amidst growing concern that power stations can be cut off when demands on British Gas soar. One industry source said:"In terms of the consumer, it is robbing Peter to pay Paul."

A spokesman for Offer said: "We want information on the situation and how it has arisen. We need to get to the bottom of it and have written to the generators today. We will also be in contact with the gas watchdog, Ofgas, and the Department of Trade and Industry."

Under the current system, some very large gas users, including power stations, have contracts which allow them hefty discounts on condition that supplies can be cut off when demand from other consumers soars.

Weather forecasters predicted the worst of the cold weather was over, although it will remain chilly.

Professor David Llewellyn-Jones of Leicester University said global warming could explain Britain's recent bouts of extremely hot and cold weather. The earth observation scientist has researched global warming by measuring changes in sea and land surface temperatures from space.

He said: "Britain has always had extreme weather, but what is expected with global warming is that we will see an increase in freak winters."