From R. G. Silson
Tring, Hertfordshire
The pros and cons of deregulation
(Forum, 14 June, p 47) seemed very relevant
to the electricity supply in our rural location.
Forty years ago there were some minor failures and an occasional major one.
One memory is of an entire winter during which we had no failures of any
kind—our old-fashioned electric clock never needed to be restarted
manually.
In recent years the power cuts seem to have become steadily worse. We have
had to purchase a backup supply to overcome the problems caused by numerous
short breaks—even in the summer. During the last winter we also had the
serious inconvenience of seven major breaks—most in apparently good
weather—totalling about 25 hours. Our local ironmonger does a good trade
in domestic paraffin lamps, and we now keep several ready filled. Is this merely
a local anomaly?
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