According to Rebecca Bailey, Shadow’s energy and business secretary, the power cut effect was unacceptable given that the National Grid had profits worth one billion and eight hundred million Euros (£1.8B). Following almost one million individuals across Wales and England losing their power yesterday, National Grid has stipulated that it has learned a fundamental lesson.
Notably, a disconnection was witnessed in two power locations and this occurrence was deemed an extremely unusual event.
According to Duncan Burt, National Grid’s Operations Director, its systems functioned well despite the blackout.
He also asserted that he did not think an irregular wind power production or cyberattack caused this problem.
National Grid’s defenses
National Grid proclaimed that the crisis was not instigated by its systems, but by a power cut triggered by the failure of two generators.
Nevertheless, Ofgem, a regulator, has insisted a prompt detailed statement should be availed about what happened.
It also warned that it could undertake enforcement repercussions such as a fine. This is founded on the numerous problems instigated.
For instance, traffic lights malfunctioned and train passengers got stranded. Moreover, many homes were inconvenienced because of the blackout.
On Saturday morning, train service disruptions were being observed in some areas.
National Grid’s power issue
On Friday, the power cut occurred at around 17:00 BST. Specifically, blackouts were noted in many parts of Wales and England.
Some industry professionals asserted that a power station located at Little Barford, Bedfordshire experienced a failure at 16:58. A short while later, a disconnection from the grid was witnessed at a wind farm located in Hornsea offshore.
Based on the information given by Burt to BBC Radio, he admitted the presence of massive disruption triggered by the blackout.
He also acknowledged that the failure of two generators simultaneously was a crisis that caught them totally unprepared. As a result, automatic safety networks were instigated to hinder power in various places.
Brut insisted that this worked well based on the industry’s safety protection networks. As a result, the grid was kept safe and secure.
However, he stipulated that the sector needed to examine if the safety systems had been put in place appropriately so that people’s lives could be minimally impacted.
These concerns can be linked to the fact that power outages in the education sector are caused by load shedding, failing infrastructure, and poor management.
Passengers were also airing their disappointment on different social media platforms where some of them attested that they were stranded after traveling for more than twelve ((12) hours. Others on trains were stuck overnight.
Ipswich Hospital also experienced a back-up generator failure and this affected many outpatient areas for fifteen (15) minutes after the power outage happened.
