§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take in response to the report on Electricity Supply Interruptions. [88308]
§ Mr. BattleWhile we recognise that security of supply is of paramount importance even in open markets, ensuring this is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply. The report, which he commissioned, followed the disruption to electricity supplies as a result of gale force winds on 26 December 1998. The report contains a number of recommendations concerning electricity distribution network performance, restoration of supplies, communications with customers and payments to customers under Standards of Performance Regulations.
Comments on the full list of recommendations, together with suggestions for other areas where further investigation is merited, were invited, and the period for those comments ends on 25 June. Any feedback will be used to inform the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets' continuing review of the companies' performance.