ABSTRACT
Since the Second World War, the annual electricity consumption in the UK has increased roughly fourfold, with the highest increase occurring in the south. Superimposed on the average rate of increase are considerable short-term fluctuations. More electrical heating is required in winter than in summer and the demands of industry in daytime are higher than at night. Additionally, there are very short surges in demand, a well-known example resulting from the switching on of numerous kettles and electric rings during the commercial breaks in a James Bond film. Such demand characteristics reflect back on the choice of power ‘mix’, since some types of power station are more economic to run steadily on ‘base load’, whereas others are more suited to cope with short surges in demand.
