Reflections on a Piece of Bullshit PR
Well, they posed the question and, given the monopoly thing, it’s a very important question. Intuitively the answer of course is – well, your being a monopoly we confidently expect you are inefficient – it’s just a question of scale. As it happens, a lot of the old CEGB inefficiency (which was grotesque, BTW) was kicked out of the system in the decade or so following privatisation. But it’s been creeping back, courtesy of the renewables upsurge. The aforesaid authorities rely totally upon the Grid to facilitate their manic policies, and don’t feel inclined to question them particularly closely on how they go about it.**
Anyhow: having posed the fateful question, the Grid declines to answer it, relying on the usual PR sleight of hand. Are we efficient? Well, it’s all very difficult as we hope you understand.
And – boy, oh boy – are we effective!! 99.9999% reliable!! Six nines!! Go Grid !!
This raises some interesting issues.
- Effectiveness has minimal bearing on efficiency, even if the first 3 letters are the same. I assume, however, that loads of suckers are focus-group proven not to notice the difference.
- The whole matter is one of Gold Plating – the old CEGB disease. We know you can be staggeringly effective if you throw money at it. Our money.
- WTF does six nines mean in this context anyway? One hour’s unreliability in 120 years? The Grid hasn’t been around that long. One second in 12 days? (Incidentally, ‘grid reliability’ isn’t what most people would be thinking about, because blackouts happen all the time: but almost all of them occur at the distribution level – storm damage, pneumatic drill through cable etc – for which National Grid is not responsible. It’s more to do with ‘quality of electricity’.)
- Most weightily: what is the optimum degree of reliability? Thoughtful people realise that the cost of going from, say, five nines to six nines is many times greater than going from four to five. Who needs six? There may be an answer to that question: it will probably be the manufacturers of ultra-high-tech electrical components. But they typically modulate their power supplies themselves, so as to be even more sure.
Yup, this is a big question, and one the politicians leave to the Grid to decide for themselves. But there are potentially massive efficiencies to be had from a true optimisation of reliability. Suppose hypothetically it was noticed that no-one drank tap water, but bought their own in plastic bottles. What, then, would be the point in treating all mains water to be potable, as at present? It’s obvious that for some overwhemingly vast percentage of all usage of mains-water, its costly potable quality goes to waste. It’s the same with grid reliability: who really needs six nines? Maybe they should get what they need in a different way. Maybe the Grid should even pay for the cost of their doing so …
Not something we can solve on a Sunday morning. One more observation on the Grid, though. Just a very few years ago they told us we needed a capacity margin (i.e. excess of power generating capacity over peak demand) of 20%. Funnily enough, now that it’s negative, they tell us that we only need 6% (and they procure the top-up in various costly ways).
Yeah, funny that. Efficient? Effective? Eff …. Lay off the bullshit PR, eh, boys?
ND
______________
** although one-time Energy Secretary Amber Rudd – remember her? – announced this was going to change … We can but hope.
Source: http://www.cityunslicker.co.uk/2017/03/reflections-on-piece-of-bullshit-pr.html
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
