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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Beard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average balance between supply and demand of electricity was at (a) peak and (b) off- peak times last winter; what she estimates the balance is likely to be in (i) five years time and (ii) 10 years time; and what her forecasts are of (A) demand and (B) the projected investment plans of the industry over those periods. [138875] Mr. Timms: According to figures published in the DTI Digest of UK Energy Statistics, the maximum simultaneous electricity load met during the winter of 2002-03 was 61,717 MW. This represented 87.6 per cent. of the generating capacity owned by major power producers in the UK, although this figure would fall to 85.2 per cent. if the interconnector with France were included. Average load across the whole winter period (October to March) was approximately 49,000 MW. Provisional estimates arising from work to update the DTI energy projections in Energy Paper 68 indicate that electricity demand is likely to grow by around 1.25 per cent. per annum over the next decade. On this basis, demand in five years time would be around 6 per cent. above current levels and demand in 10 years around 13 per cent. above current levels. Future investment by the industry, and hence the future balance between supply and demand, is a commercial matter for electricity market participants. The UK market provides strong financial incentives for electricity suppliers to contract for sufficient power to meet their customers' needs and for generators to deliver the power they have contracted to provide.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

138875; 413 c975W;413 c975-6W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Electricity generation Energy supply Electricity

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk