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Supplies due back after blackouts Sizewell out as power supply back
(about 3 hours later)
Electricity supplies are expected to return to normal following countrywide blackouts, the National Grid has said. Electricity supplies have returned to normal following countrywide blackouts on Tuesday, the National Grid has said.
Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across London, Cheshire, Merseyside and East Anglia were affected on Tuesday. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across London, Cheshire, Merseyside and East Anglia lost power.
Blackouts were caused by Sizewell B nuclear plant in Suffolk and Longanett coal-fired station in Scotland going off-line within minutes of each other. Blackouts were caused by Sizewell B nuclear plant in Suffolk and Longannet coal-fired station in Scotland going off-line within minutes of each other.
Storms overnight have left some people still without power but operators have said they are working to restore it.
Sizewell B may be down for days, Martin Pearce from British Energy said, but one unit at Longannet in Scotland is operating again.
In total, nine generating units across the country became unavailable.In total, nine generating units across the country became unavailable.
Stuart Larque, spokesman for the National Grid, said: "We think it will be a case of business as usual. We have a very robust system in the UK. A National Grid spokeswoman said: "It is business as usual but some of the network operators may still be trying to restore power in places."
Producers apologiseProducers apologise
"It rarely fails and that's why everybody is talking about it so much."
The blackouts were caused by the opposite of a power surge as the National Grid deactivated local stations to maintain the required 50hz frequency.The blackouts were caused by the opposite of a power surge as the National Grid deactivated local stations to maintain the required 50hz frequency.
When demand is greater than generation, the system fails, the National Grid said.When demand is greater than generation, the system fails, the National Grid said.
British Energy said they were working to bring supplies from Sizewell B back onto the National Grid but this could take several days.
A spokesman for Longannet said they had four units but two were under long -erm maintenance for the effects of sulphur emissions and two were down as part of their summer programme.
One came back on stream early on Tuesday but was taken out at 1100 BST to repair a minor problem but was put back into commission seven hours later.
David Porter, chief executive of the Association of Electricity Producers, which represents the companies that generate the UK's electricity, said the problem was caused by several smaller issues that occurred at the same time.David Porter, chief executive of the Association of Electricity Producers, which represents the companies that generate the UK's electricity, said the problem was caused by several smaller issues that occurred at the same time.
"It was a huge coincidence. A couple of large power stations just within a few minutes of each other suffered breakdowns and the loss of power was more than the system is designed to take.
Tough decisions neededTough decisions needed
"It was a huge coincidence. A couple of large power stations just within a few minutes of each other suffered breakdowns and the loss of power was more than the system is designed to take.
"People were without power for 30 or 40 minutes I believe. Everybody in the industry is very sorry but it doesn't happen very often.""People were without power for 30 or 40 minutes I believe. Everybody in the industry is very sorry but it doesn't happen very often."
Independent energy consultancy, McKinnon and Clarke, has advised the government to build new power stations or face further power cuts.Independent energy consultancy, McKinnon and Clarke, has advised the government to build new power stations or face further power cuts.
David Hunter, energy analyst at McKinnon and Clarke, said: "The government's inability to make long-term energy security decisions over the last decade is coming home to roost.David Hunter, energy analyst at McKinnon and Clarke, said: "The government's inability to make long-term energy security decisions over the last decade is coming home to roost.
"Since the 'dash for gas' in the 1990s, the lack of political will to make tough decisions has left Britain short of power.""Since the 'dash for gas' in the 1990s, the lack of political will to make tough decisions has left Britain short of power."