The Public Perception of Power Blackouts

The public's response to power blackouts provides a valuable insight into their concerns about the industry and provides an invaluable demonstration of society's dependency on bulk electricity supplies. The London blackout and one in Birmingham a week later were both caused by technical problems, also they sparked wide-ranging debates about the future and state of the power supply industry. The immediate concern was the possibility of a terrorist attack, a suggestion which was quickly discounted. Then there were questions about lack of investment which again were answered. Later questions were raised about the viability of the industry and the prospect of further blackouts. Political decisions were questioned and both past and present governments were criticized. A survey conducted 18 months after the blackout revealed that the events were no longer foremost in peoples' minds. Most of those questioned however held the supply companies responsible, but that some responsibility lay with politicians