Doubling the cost is enough to make everyone more conscience of energy consumption [Paligol_CC BY-SA 4.0]

• I SAW that if power cuts happen in the winter they will occur between 4pm and 7pm.

It is good to know, but this threat has been apparent for 40 years because of the surge when people get in from work and want a cup of tea.

When I was in gainful employment we did not start up major machinery in these hours because of such a surge and the pricing of our contract.

Energy companies want you to have a smart meter to solve this and subsequently hit you in these hours and hence control your usage.

Let’s face it, you have a perfectly working meter and can look at it as often as you want; in order to control something you must only measure it and be sufficiently interested. Controlling your usage is only attitude in the end.

Women feel the cold more and need to turn the heating up, children will charge their devices whenever, and the bill payer will blame everyone else but themselves.

Others will have to go to public buildings to keep warm. Others will burn fossil fuels. The doubling of energy cost is quite enough to make everyone more conscience of consumption every hour of the day.

The country will defeat this just as we always have. It is a pity we have to wait for crises to be at our best.

One helpful solution would be for the politicians to find a way to induce every company to work shifts, say mixes of 6-2; 2-10; 8-4.

It would spread the rush hour, get the kids better sorted, and for those involved in the global economy the work pattern would better serve.

As politicians who reach the top cannot even find the door I thought I should write to you.

NICK SHARROCK
Arlington Avenue, N1