§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many large high-load factor, plus 70 per cent. electricity customers there are in the United Kingdom; which industries they cover; and what is the total annual consumption by sector.
§ Mr. MellorI am advised by the Electricity Council that the number of large, high-load factor consumers in England and Wales in 1980–81 and their aggregate consumption was as follows:
Consumers in England and Wales with Maximum demand over 10 MW and Load factor over 70% Sector No. of Consumers Aggregate Consumption (in KWh) Mining (other than coal) and quarrying 1 93 Coal and petroleum products 2 261 General chemicals 10 2,333 Pharmaceuticals, soaps, synthetic resins and fertilisers 4 469 Manufacture of copper, brass and other base metals 2 232 Motor vehicle manufacture 1 210 Textiles 4 344 Glass and Cement 3 221 Paper and Board 2 204 Air transport 1 67 Total 30 4,435 Electricity supplies in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the value of improved load management assessed at about £70 million, to each industrial sector accommodating large high-load factor electricity customers.
§ Mr. MellorI am advised by the Electricity Council that it is not yet possible to give definitive figures, but it is anticipated that about one third of the benefit from the new contracted consumer load arrangements will fall to consumers in the steel sector, one third to the chemicals sector and the remaining third to consumers in a number of other sectors including non-ferrous metals, tubes and castings, the engineering industry generally and cement, paper and board. The benefit will go to consumers ready to subscribe to the terms and conditions of the scheme and will not be restricted to those with a very high load factor.