Power cuts are sparking growing protest from angry
businesses.
Now Business Voice West Midlands has written to energy regulator
Ofgem asking what is going on.
There has been concern for some time that breakdowns are
happening more frequently.
And a series of surveys co-ordinated by BVWM has again
highlighted the issue.
West Midlands Chambers of Commerce found that 63.7 per cent of
firms responding had experienced power cuts during the last two
years, many several times over, causing considerable
disruption.
Most claimed they were never told what the problem was, had
never been advised how best to prepare for a power cut, and did not
have a back-up generator.
All 28 companies in an online survey for BVWM and the Institute
of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales reported having
suffered a power cut in the past two years. A quarter had suffered
up to ten power cuts; over a third even more.
The effects had been damaging and included disrupted production
and trading, subsequent equipment problems, loss of productivity,
increased operational costs and a negative impact on customers.
Similarly, the British Ceramic Confederation cited examples of
badly affected businesses:
• A Cannock company which had suffered up to five power
cuts in the last two years which knocked production and affected
productivity.
• A factory in Newcastle under Lyme had suffered up to five
power cuts over the last two years.
• A Coventry concern which reported that a loss of power
would typically result in a one hour stoppage.
In his letter to Ofgem chief executive Alistair Buchanan, BVWM
Executive Director James Watkins said: "Power cuts in parts of the
West Midlands region are becoming a feature that is being felt more
and more by businesses.
"These power cuts are affecting everyday operations, are
increasing costs and impairing competitiveness."
Highlighting apparent contradictions between the surveys and
official statistics, he went on: "We appreciate that the details do
not seem to relate to the figures produced by Ofgem in respect of
power cuts in the West Midlands region.
"We would be grateful, therefore, if Ofgem could provide us with
data for power outages for the East and West Midlands and how these
are broken down."
In particular BVWM has asked for details of planned outages,
interference, environmental conditions or other explanations.