http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/electricity-pricerise-pain-may-be-worse-than-expected-8200105.htmlQuote:
Britain could be in for a higher jump in electricity prices than previously thought after the energy regulator warned yesterday that the country faces substantial power shortages within three years.
Speaking after Ofgem said spare electricity-generation capacity, known as the margin, is set to tumble from 14 per cent now to just 4 per cent over the winter of 2015/2016, Consumer Focus warned that this would put further pressure on prices.
Quote:
"There will be a significant reduction in electricity supplies from coal and oil plants over the period [to 2015], primarily driven by closures required by European environmental legislation," an Ofgem spokesman warned. "The high level of spare capacity in the electricity market is set to end quite rapidly over the next few years."
Nine UK-based coal and oil fired plants with a combined generating capacity of 11.5 gigawatts are due to close by 2015, of which four are expected to cease generation next year. Energy UK, the industry body, said Ofgem was right to highlight the challenges it faces in the coming years.
When you are sat in the dark and cold in 2016 (and you probably will be as rolling blackouts will become the norm) remember the enthusiasm of some politicians towards the wonderful EU......
The gas power plants are dependant on us having plenty of gas - we don't, in fact we get closer and closer each year to running out over winter and we're getting more and more dependant upon LNG imports.
As well as the coal stations due to be shut for "environmental" reasons we've been actively shutting down nuclear power stations which are well past their end-of-life dates.
The only reason we haven't had rolling blackouts so far has been a combination of imports from France combined with the fact that consumption has been falling as factories close.
Also worth pointing out that without electricity your gas central heating will not run..........
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