Heatwaves Strains EU Power Grids - Reuters

[hatrack]

PARIS/LONDON - France called on companies to use less power and Britain's grid warned of tight supplies on Wednesday as a heat wave sweeping northern Europe hampered nuclear stations and boosted energy demand.

Wholesale power prices, which form the basis for final bills to consumers, hovered around the previous day's highs in France, Germany and the UK. Soaring temperatures heightened concerns over security of energy supplies as air conditioning use went into overdrive.

France's main electricity provider EDF said it had been forced to import supplies to cover shortages. The heat forced EDF to buy 2,000 megawatts electricity abroad -- roughly equivalent to the capacity of a large nuclear stations. Traders said they believed EDF had bought the power from Germany.

EDF Chairman and Chief Executive Pierre Gadonneix said the heatwave highlighted EDF's investment needs in order to secure its supplies. EDF plans to invest in France over the 2006-2010 period around 20 billion euros in the production, transport and distribution sectors.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/37348/story.htm

[NNadir]

1. Britain's 2000 MWe Ratcliffe coal fired power plant is down after

a steam explosion.

http://orange.co.uk/news/business/24229.htm?linkfrom=%3C!--linkfromvariable--%3E&link=link_4&article=newsbusinessheadlines