Vocal Voices

In March this year the UK came within six hours of running out of gas - not a lot of people know that. It has now been announced that Centrica (British Gas) is scrapping plans to build two storage facilities because the £1.5bn cost is not economically viable. Again it is not headline news, it is hidden in the "other stories" section. It is far more important for us to know that Rolf Harris is in court, an MEP has quit UKIP, and eBay and Argos have struck a deal.

This news should be a big worry for us, for politicians and for business as we currently only have 15 days of reserves - two weeks to save ourselves. How many of us heat our homes or cook with gas? How much of the UK's electricity is generated from gas? On that point please do not forget that Ofgem has warned of power cuts from mid 2014 due to a lack of capacity. How many of us, individuals and businesses, have alternatives to keep going?

I find it alarming that infrastructure projects in the energy sector are cancelled due to a lack of subsidies to enable the companies to pay big bonuses and shareholder dividends. It's is time for a rethink before the lights go out.

It's time for me to get a woodburner.
Also it might be a good idea not to build 200,000 new houses a year, thus increasing even further demand for gas.

Isn't is nice that, being an old fogey, you probably won't be around when the inevitable happens.

It's the "young uns" you should be worrying.

I have a 32kw wood burning CH stove. Which can do my hot water too. I also have a generator now and Mrs S has sanctioned DIY solar with on site power farm.

Next 3 years should insulate me from energy costs and grid issues.

I'd be doing it even faster in the UK.

I already have quite a lot of communal type camping gear including a cooker, fridge/freezer, heater and gas lamps. I am seriously considering a large propane bottle and a manifold to run most of them off.