Pictured above: David Caro
Business Voice WM has stepped up its campaign against on-going
power cuts in parts of the West Midlands.
Having secured a pledge from energy company, E.on, that they
will investigate the concerns, the lobby group has now turned its
fire on Scottish Power, main electricity distributor in north
Shropshire.
It has complained to Frank Mitchell, Scottish Power's director
of energy networks, and asked North Shropshire Conservative MP Owen
Paterson to further take up the cudgels.
David Caro, Business Voice WM board member and chairman of the
Federation of Small Businesses' Environment and Energy Policy Unit,
has requested a meeting with Mr Mitchell "to address the very
serious power cuts afflicting areas of Shropshire".
He said: "We undertook a survey of the business community and
found that regular power cuts are a constant reason for loss of
income by many firms in key areas of the Midlands. We have raised
our concerns with E.on who are kindly investigating this matter.
However, some of these power cuts relate to north Shropshire where
Scottish Power is the main electricity distributor."
Noting that it was not the first time the issue had been raised
with the energy giant, and that Shropshire Council and Mr Paterson
had met with representatives of the company to attempt to resolve
the matters, he went on: "Regrettably, however, these problems are
still continuing and are so significant that the matter has now
repeatedly come to our attention.
"As you can appreciate, these cuts are deterring investment
readiness and enthusiasm and negatively impacting upon the
competitiveness of the Shropshire economy."
Business and Scottish Power needed to "work together" for a
resolution.
Mr Caro urged Mr Paterson - who is also the Northern Ireland
Secretary - to keep up the pressure.
David Caro said: "We appreciate that Owen Paterson has been in
contact with Scottish Power. We would support all MPs to ensure the
energy regulator, Ofgem, take on board their responsibilities and
ensure these power cuts are addressed by Scottish Power and others
that may be responsible."