National Grid’s plans to resuscitate the electricity system in the event of a nationwide blackout have spiralled from £17.5m to almost £150m after aging coal plants were offered a deal to “keep warm” in case of an emergency. The system operator will face the energy regulator this summer to explain why its so-called “black start” plans will cost £113m more than Ofgem agreed, amid rising criticism from the industry that the plants are being overpaid in response to the UK’s looming threat of blackouts. National Grid put in place the costly plans – which are ultimately paid for by consumers on their energy bills – to ensure that coal plants at SSE’s Fiddlers Ferry and the Drax site are available to kick-start the power grid if the UK is plunged into a catastrophic blackout.
Telegraph 8th June 2016 read more »