Heat/Power Blackouts Hit London Districts

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*Perilous Times and Global Warming

Heat/Power Blackouts Hit London Districts*

Thursday July 27, 2006 6:46 PM

LONDON (AP) - Power blackouts prompted by high temperatures struck more
than 1,000 businesses in London's major shopping districts and part of
the capital's transit network Thursday. High energy demand led to faults
in the city's power system, which caused outages starting in the central
Soho district, the energy company EDF said in a statement.

Temperatures reached up to 90 degrees in central London on Thursday, the
weather center said.

Part of a major subway station at Oxford Street, which brings people to
businesses and more than 300 nearby stores, was closed for about 90
minutes, said James Simpson of the London Underground. He said an
estimated 570,000 passengers ride through the station on weekdays.

EDF said power outages would likely continue throughout Thursday and
into Friday, causing about 1,300 companies in an area between Piccadilly
Circus and Oxford Circus to lose power.

``Prudent use of power by those in the affected area, for example
turning off air conditioning where possible, will help this situation,''
the company's statement said.