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The UK is not adequately prepared to cope with a severe and prolonged power blackout, according to an intergovernmental report leaked last week.
A government spokeswoman confirmed to Utility Week that the results of the study, known as Exercise Hopkinson, were leaked to the Telegraph newspaper but declined to comment further on the findings.
The Telegraph reported that the UK’s contingency plans are not fit for purpose in the event of a prolonged blackout across the South West of the country.
A widespread blackout would take out key infrastructure, including the giant Hinckley Point nuclear plant. In addition transport networks would be paralysed and emergency services would struggle to cope as fuel required to run backup generators could be inaccessible.
According to The Telegraph, a report of the findings distributed privately last month said they “exposed the fact that, where contingency plans against power disruption exist, some of those plans are based on assumption rather than established fact”.
As a result “populations are far less resilient now than they once were… There is likely to be a very rapid descent into public disorder unless government can maintain [the] perception of security”.
A statement from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) said the scenario tested in the study is “unlikely” but that it was carried out to “ensure we are as prepared as possible”.
“[I]t is important we do these exercises and learn from them,” Decc said.
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