§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has collated on the number of power cuts experienced by residents and businesses in the Seeboard area over the last five years; and what representations she has made to energy producers concerning cuts in supply to customers. [4573]
§ Mr. WilsonOver the last five years the number of power cuts in the Seeboard area has varied between 95.5 and 88.5 per 100 customers. Over the same period the average duration of a power cut in the Seeboard area has varied between 92 minutes and 74.5 minutes.
Ofgem will shortly carry out initial consultation with the electricity companies in order to extend the guaranteed and overall standards to include the maximum number of power cuts, which individual customers should experience in any single year. This is being carried out under Ofgem's information and incentive project with the aim of introducing it in April 2002. The target figure has yet to be set on the maximum number of power cuts.