Letter: Power problems

I WAS interested to see the figure of £110 billion debt as Scotland's share if it became independent. If independence came to pass, I am curious what arrangements would be made about renewable obligation certificates which subsidise wind energy.

At the moment the money comes from everyone's electricity bills but as the population of England is vastly greater than Scotland this means England subsides Scottish landowners with turbines on their land, who have never had it so good.

Would Scottish customers have to pay the obligation for all the turbines in Scotland? Scary thought.

Celia Hobbs

Peebles Road

Penicuik, Midlothian

ScottishPower could make a simple change that would save consumers money. Its associate company, SP Distribution Ltd, which supplies electricity to all consumers in the south of Scotland, could lower the domestic voltage (the lower the voltage, the less one pays for electricity, given the same current).

The EU has decreed that all member states should harmonise on 230 volts. Some continental states are in the process of increasing their network voltage to that level, some from 220V. However, the UK seems to be taking advantage of the leeway on the target voltage by taking no action.

The leeway allows voltage to vary from 216.2V to 253V.

The UK's over-voltage is a scandal (the average is 242 V). In my house, until I installed equipment to reduce it, the voltage was regularly 250V, occasionally the maximum. I am now saving electricity, and money.

Steuart Campbell

Dovecot Loan

Edinburgh