HC Deb 10 January 2001 vol 360 cc548-9W
Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent measures he has taken to ensure the continuity of power supply; [143922]

(2) what monitoring he undertakes of the frequency, duration and location of power cuts. [143921]

Mrs. Liddell

The DTI's Engineering Inspectorate enforces the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988, as amended, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. These regulations require the electricity supply companies to prevent interruption of supply so far as is reasonably practicable, to protect equipment from possible damage or interference and design and operate networks to minimise the number of consumers affected by any fault. The electricity supply companies are also required to report single interruptions of 20 megawatts or more lasting one minute or longer, or single interruption of five megawatts or more or affecting 5,000 consumers or more and lasting one hour or longer.

Engineering Inspectors review the circumstances of each reported event and, where appropriate, investigate the circumstances to check for compliance with the regulations. In addition, Engineering Inspectors regularly challenge the performance of the electricity companies on behalf of dissatisfied consumers who report local problems to the Inspectorate.

All electricity licensees who operate transmission or distribution systems are also required to report annually to the Gas and Electricity Markets authority on their performance in maintaining system security, availability and quality of service. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets publishes this information in an annual report called "Report on Distribution and Transmission System Performance". Ofgem's website: www.ofgem.gov.uk.

Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the quality of power supply to businesses and homes in Slough. [143923]

Mrs. Liddell

DTI Engineering Inspectors, who enforce the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988, as amended, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, are aware of two major incidents involving outdoor equipment at Slough Grid substation occurring on 14 April 2000 and 1 May 2000, both of which affected approximately 21,000 consumers in the Slough area. The first incident which lasted an hour was attributed to failure of a 33kV insulator, and the second incident which lasted 45 minutes was caused by a bird straddling 33kV conductors.

There have been other relatively minor supply interruptions in the Slough area in the last 12 months. However, Inspectors are not aware of any level of complaints from consumers or reports from the local electricity companies which would indicate a general deterioration of the electricity supply.

Particular incidents of a repeat nature or of long duration should be reported to inspectors who will investigate the circumstances on behalf of consumers to check that the local electricity company is complying with the regulations.