From the Torygraph...
Households paid the equivalent of £2m an hour to gas-fired power stations on Wednesday after low winds and freezing temperatures left electricity grid bosses scrambling to keep the lights on.
As freezing weather swept into the South East, the National Energy System Operator (Neso) warned that it expected power supplies to become particularly tight between 4pm and 7pm.
The crunch forced grid operators to pay huge sums to gas power plant owners to keep them running. The cost will ultimately be borne by households and businesses through their bills.
At one stage, they agreed to pay the Rye House power station, in Hertfordshire, the equivalent of £1.8m per hour, transparency data shows.
Three gas-fired units in Connah’s Quay, North Wales, were also paid a combined £2m per hour.
Neso declined to comment on the payments.
It comes as cold weather is expected to spark increased electricity consumption as more people stay indoors, watch television and use their gas or electric heating.
At the same time, a sharp drop in wind power and low availability of power interconnectors with Europe is also putting more pressure on the grid.
In response, Neso has issued a warning to electricity generators and suppliers that it is looking to bolster supplies.
There is no suggestion there will be blackouts or that power cuts are “imminent”, a spokesman said.
But Neso added this morning: “In the short-term, we would like a greater safety cushion between power demand and available supply.” ===================================================
Gotta lurve those renewables. No wonder fossil duel companies love them.