Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to reduce the risk of electricity blackouts during winter 2014-15.

On 28 October National Grid announced that it will procure 1.1 GW of additional de-rated capacity though Supplemental Balancing Reserve (SBR) and Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR) for the winter of 2014/15. DECC supports the decisive action taken by National Grid and Ofgem and views the amount procured as a sensible and prudent step in order to provide the necessary degree of resilience for times of very high demand.

This action will increase capacity margins from around 4% to over 6%; a higher level than we had between 2005/06 and 2007/8 and well within the Government’s reliability standard.

This means that we will continue to benefit from secure electricity supplies even with further unexpected outages or a very cold winter.