News story18th December 2000 MP KEEPS UP PRESSURE OVER POWER CUTSNorthavon MP Steve Webb is keeping up the pressure over repeated power cuts in the Thornbury area following replies received to his letters from the electricity companies and from the industry regulator. The Lib Dem MP took up the issue following complaints from a number of local residents about the frequent power failures in the Thornbury area, with some reporting that in parts of Thornbury a stock of candles and a torch had become household necessities. The MP took up these complaints
with power company Npower and with the electricity regulator OFGEM.NPower referred the
complaint to GPU, the company responsible for electricity distribution in the
local area, and OFGEM, in addition to replying in general terms, also passed
on the complaint to “Energywatch”, the new body which looks into consumer
complaints.Copies of the
replies which were received are attached. In its reply, GPU Power ruled out the possibility that the problems had been related to electricity demand by local businesses, as had been suggested. The letter listed five major failures in central Thornbury since mid-July, each affecting more than four thousand customers, as well as various other failures affecting the west of the town, and a further four major failures in Alveston. A number of these failures in Thornbury and Alveston were attributed to faulty equipment at the Alveston substation which is now to be replaced early in the New Year. In addition, the company
promised a number of maintenance actions designed to improve the reliability
of supply.In conclusion,
the company promised close monitoring of supplies in the area in anticipation
of “an appreciable improvement to supply reliability”. The new
consumer body for gas and electricity consumers, “energywatch” wrote to Steve
Webb on 11th December indicating that they were “very concerned” about the
situation in Thornbury and would be launching their own investigation. Commenting,
Steve Webb said: “I am pleased to hear that the electricity suppliers are taking action in response to the wholly unacceptable level of service which local residents have received. However, even since receiving these replies I am aware of more power cuts which have taken place. I will therefore be keeping a
close eye on the companies involved to see that they keep their promises and
make the necessary improvements.I would encourage local residents to notify me of any major
disruptions in the future and I will try to keep the pressure up on the
company to sort out this problem once and for all”. |