Lord Andrew Adonis broke cover on BBC radio 4 this morning to tell us about the new National Infrastructure Commission’s plans for making our country vulnerable to massive power cuts. This will be achieved by making the UK dependent on undersea electrical extension leads plugged into Iceland, Denmark and other EU countries wind power systems, continuing to shut down our traditional power generation capacity and the installation of smart meters which talk to new white-goods everyone will have to buy. A lot of the plan is predicated on ‘demand reduction’ and ‘storage’ (although details of that were not forthcoming).

Enviro-campaigner Roger Harrabin takes up the story:

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) envisages a smart energy revolution with more cables linking the National Grid to mainland Europe.

NIC also says the UK needs to store much more energy from intermittent renewable like wind and solar.

Fridges, freezers and washing machines could play a part, they say.

Experts believe it is the first step to a full-scale “Internet of Energy”, with web-enabled home appliances like freezers and washing machines linked to the grid.

Here’s how it would work: At a time of peak demand, an energy firm’s computer will contact your smart freezer to ask if power can be switched off for a few minutes to allow your neighbour to use some of the energy to cook dinner.

Your well-insulated freezer will stay cold without electricity for a while, so it will agree to power down.

You will be rewarded with a credit on your energy bill.

Professor Phil Taylor from Newcastle University said: “If you unravelled the National Grid it would stretch to the moon and back. We can’t afford to renew it even if we wanted to.”

“This report is progressive,” he said. “It’s the right way to go – delivering savings through flexibility rather than more infrastructure.”

Full story

So there you have it. A vital function, headed up by a history graduate who doesn’t know one end of an alternator from another, backed up by a professor in ‘sustainability’, has been put in charge of planning the future of our country’s power infrastructure. Is it deliberate sabotage? Incompetence? Give us your thoughts below, and try to avoid using too many hurtful words. You know how sensitive these ‘progressives’ are.

The National Infrastructure Commission:

Lord Andrew Adonis Chair