Bulbs problems in The Highlands

WHY do light bulbs in homes in The Highlands area of town blow with distressing regularity?

It is a question which is concerning resident Ron Gager and his neighbours.

Mr Gager, provisional secretary of the Highlands Area of Bexhill Residents' Association, contacted the Observer saying that before January 1, 1995 the UK electricity supply was 240 volts.

"Since that date, in accordance with the 'European Harmonisation of Electricity Supplies' it has been 230 volts."

Believing that this directive had been adopted in full in the UK and that the maximum permissible UK voltage was 250v, he contacted electricity supplier EDF to tell them of the problems that people in The Highlands have been having.

"Here in The Highlands we have been experiencing abnormally high levels of light bulbs blowing and one neighbour has had three low-voltage kitchen lighting transformers burn out. Another changes about one bulb per week.

"I called EDF who are responsible. Their engineer measured at my meter 245 volts, whereas I and my next door neighbour had both measured it a little earlier at 250 volts.

"He took me to the nearby sub station (in the front garden of number 35) where he measured the voltage as around 236 on all three phases (blue, yellow and red.)

"This, frankly, is impossible, it cannot be lower than at my house. So, we are very suspicious, particularly because :-

a) EDF took over an existing system and possibly presumed that the sub-station transformer tappings had already been adjusted to comply with regulations when in fact they clearly have not and

b) It obviously behoves supply companies to raise the voltage as much as they can get away with because we use more electricity that way and our bills are higher.

"The EDF engineer did not hold out much hope that adjustments would be made, but here we have a consumer issue which is very topical.

"It also touches on safety when transformers are burning out and could cause fires.

"It might be useful to your readers to point out that other European countries which were formerly using 220 volts (as against our former 240 volts) now have lower limits than us and that electrical items purchased in those countries may well not have a particularly long life."

By law, domestic electricity supplies in the UK must be delivered from 216v (530v minus 6%) to 253v (230v plus ten per cent).

After the Observer put Mr Gager's points to EDF the company undertook to send an engineer to take further readings.

A company spokesman said: "EDF Energy Networks is sorry to hear of the worries about electricity supply caused to residents in the Highlands area of Bexhill.

"The issue of voltage levels was first raised with us on December 3 and we sent an engineer to the area to investigate. He tested the local electricity distribution network and found it was working to the correct levels. He used a reliable, industry-calibrated meter.

"However, following the concerns, we have contacted the customer who emailed you. We are hoping to take more readings, both at the customer's home and on the local network, again this week. This will enable us to resolve the issue."

Mr Gager has since obtained information from the Health And Safety Executive which shows that the European harmonisation directive was not adopted in full.

He says: "So, the maximum we can expect is 253 volts and we have only ever reached 250volts in The Highlands."