§ 98. Mr. Shortasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what report he has received under Regulation 21 (c) of the Electricity Supply Regulations, 1937, on the break-down of electric power in Newcastle on Wednesday, 14th December; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what report he has received under Regulation 21 (c) of the Electricity Supply Regulations, 1937, about the breakdown at the Stella power station, Dunston on Tyne, on 14th December, which caused interruption of work and services estimated to amount to more than £1,000,000.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydPreliminary reports so far received show that this interruption of supply was caused by an explosion at 8.30 a.m. on 14th December in the switching gear at Stella South substation which is part of the Central Electricity Authority's "grid" transmission system. This affected switch gear at other points of the system and also the circuits leading from the Dunston power station, and interrupted the supply to the North Eastern Electricity Board's distribution system covering Northumberland and North Durham. Supplies were partially restored by noon and fully by 6.30 p.m. on the same day. It is provisionally estimated that some 300,000 kilowatts of power were lost. The cause of the explosion is still being investigated.