Reset the tariffs for electricity – The Herald

WHY do we spend a fortune on wind power and pay for windmills to be turned
off and for ageing nuclear power stations to heat the sea whilst
encouraging the most polluting UK power station to generate electricity?

Scottish power generation is in the news again. Hunterston and Longannet
both have their problems but both have a contribution to make (“Minister
calls for urgent talks over future of power station”, The Herald, October
6). Whilst nuclear power has its critics and coal and sludge-burning power
stations pollute, the former provides base load and burning of fossil fuel
can provide power for peak demand. On average power demand is lower at
night and coal burning is needed at peak times in the day. If consumers
could be persuaded to use electricity when it is available rather than when
it is convenient, then pollution could be reduced and so could costs. It
may even be possible to make maximum use of expensive power generated by
wind turbines.

EDF operates Hunterston, and consumers like me should be offered incentive
to consume electricity at night. By various means such as time switches 47
per cent of my electricity consumption is overnight, between 12.15 and 8.15
am. EDF does offer a tariff that allows for different rates at night and in
the day. I am on this tariff. It is set so you must use a minimum of 45 per
cent of power overnight before you break even. For example, if you move to
a dual-rate tariff and use 40 per cent of your electricity at night, it
will cost you more than if you are on the standard tariff. As a result most
people will not move on to a dual rate electricity tariff.

EDF is therefore responsible for unnecessary use of fossil fuels at peak
periods as well as wasting power generated by nuclear and wind generators
overnight, simply because of the way it sets its domestic tariffs. The
green lobby has for too long pushed for expensive new methods of generation
when the simple device of regulating the way tariffs are set could have an
impact just as big.

Andrew Muirhead,
33 Bellevue Road, Ayr.