Wednesday
Oct172012
by 
Bishop Hill
Bishop Hill Lordly questions
Oct 17, 2012 Energy: grid House of Lords From Today's Moderator
Energy: Self-sufficiency
Question
2.52 pm [15 October 2012]
Asked by Lord Ezra
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK could again become self-sufficient in energy
....will [my noble friend] confirm that there will be adequate electricity supplies and generating capacity, in view of the recent report of Ofgem that stated that there might be a reduction in capacity in the next four years?
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201213/ldhansrd/text/1210150001.htm#12101518000364
Update: date corrected, 9.35pm, 17.10.12. TM]
Reader Comments (54)
Heh, I love the way 'reduce supply' becomes 'reduce demand' wherever that poor fool learned economics.
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Several people seem to have taken my previous post the wrong way.
First, I explicitly stated that it was impractical and would be prohibitively expensive to get any significant reduction in power usage, using smart meters. Using my example, it would cost the US about 1.2 trillion dollars to convert all households, and take at least a decade, probably more, to see a payback. That is without a discount rate. With a discount rate of 5%, it would take 20 years or more to see breakeven. This economic fact alone would discourage popular, voluntary usage. Electricity prices would need to be at least twice as high as current, and probably quadrupled, before any reduction in usage is seen. Even then I woudl think that smart meters would have a minor effect.
Second, the numbers I quoted (20-80%) on my savings are from the power company. This year to date, its is about 35% lower than my neighbours. Compared to LYTD, my personal kwh is reduced about 25%, from 9946 in 2011 to 7662 this year. (Apr-Sep)
Third, its not about the smart meter by itself. Its about an integrated system. For a reduction in power usage, you need:
a) smart meter, to measure results.
b) reduced power devices, like LEDs, smart thermostats, solar attic fans etc. Also good insulation.
c) a control system for the reduced power devices. I use Z-wave technology for that.
d) the willingness to use and manage such a system.
e) the ability to pay for such a system.
If any of the points above are missing, usage savings will be reduced, even to zero.
Re smart meters. The authorities will argue that they are merely replacing one meter with another and that in many countries the power already exists to do this. That is, installers have to have access.
The counter argument is that they are NOT replaving one meter with another. They are additionally using Internet type methods to monitor your power use. This can be hacked. Burglars might be able to discern a good time tor a break and enter. They are also taking away a basic freedom, the freedom to use power in much the same way as there is a civil right to get food and water and shelter. They do this by cutting off your electricity when they fail to produce the load damands of the public.
It's a classic case of bureaucrats imposing their ways on the the populace, forgetting that governments exist to express the will of the majority of people.
Oct 22, 2012 at 11:02 AM | Geoff Sherrington
Absolutely right Geoff. What I hinted at above, but expressed very eloquently by you.
Is it too much to call it creeping totalitarianism? We see similar things happening in many areas now. Most , if not directly attributable to, can be traced back to Europe. Even the human rights act and similar are used to stop people doing things or expressing their opinions.