Nearly 70pc of London and the South East\u2019s electricity was being imported from France and the Low Countries on Tuesday. That total reached 74pc on some days last week.<\/p>\n
Similarly, about half of north-east England\u2019s electricity was being imported on Tuesday, largely from Norway.<\/p>\n
In total, the UK paid \u00a31.7bn for imported power in the first five months of this year. The annual bill is on course to eclipse last year\u2019s total of \u00a33.6bn, of which \u00a31.8bn was paid to France\u2019s state-owned power company EDF.<\/p>\n
Its nuclear power stations, especially those on France\u2019s north coast, have become essential to maintaining power supplies for London and the Home Counties.<\/p>\n
EDF operates 57 reactors across France. However, overall nuclear output has fallen by more than a tenth so far this year.<\/p>\n
\u2018It is making us poorer\u2019<\/p>\n
Supporters of the current UK system argue that backing up the country\u2019s own power grid with imports helps to improve energy security.<\/p>\n
Opponents warn that the UK is becoming too reliant on such imports, putting it at the mercy of foreign traders and governments.<\/p>\n
Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, said: \u201cAs I have repeatedly warned, the current Government is increasingly putting our energy security in the hands of our Continental neighbours.<\/p>\n