Sir
This time of the year I am always reminded of the shackles I saddled myself with during my long career, and my desire to warn others of the folly, nay, the grave danger, of forging these burdens in the first place and then be forced to drag them along for all eternity.
Recently a trio of ghosts, kindred spirits with a particular interest in generation, paid me a nocturnal visit. It has been an annus horribilis for power generation and these apparitions desired to warn me of the grave perils facing the industry, and how these might be turned into opportunities. I thought it opportune to share their messages with your astute readers.
The first ghost to address me was called the Spirit of Progress. In the past, he explained at great length, he was a force to be reckoned with. He reminded me how power generation in this country had been started by private enterprise, from the dusty streets of Kimberley to mighty Klip, then the largest power station in the Empire. It had awakened latent industry, hauled ore from deeper and driven the railways further than ever before.
But the Cape Electric Light and Telephone Company, the Rand Central Electrical Works, the Rand Mines Power Supply Company and the Victoria Falls Power Company eventually succumbed to Eskom. The pace of progress initially quickened as Eskom took over existing stations and started a construction program of its own. There was little interference from the government (although it tried a few times), and soon Eskom became the de-facto generating monopoly as economies of scale changed the landscape and huge six-packs rose from the veld like mushrooms in a fertile soil. The Spirit of Progress recalled that the real price of electricity actually decreased during the last decade of the previous century. But that achievement came with its own shackles: planning, financing, constructing, operating and maintaining a large interconnected system of power stations became an increasingly complex and difficult science, and difficult to keep light.
At this stage, Sir, to my considerable consternation, the Spirit of Progress was rudely shoved aside by a second ghost, the Angel of Darkness, who was dragging the heavy fetters of folly. ‘Planning? bah! humbug!’ this sinister character shrieked. "Give the people what they need, not what they want! Out with the cheap, in with the dear! Let them save or suffer in darkness!" As he uttered these words, all the lights went out and he fell silent. Mines ceased to work, factories ground to a halt and everybody was left in the dark. Luckily, out of the shadows then emerged a third ghost, a dim, almost ethereal shape only half visible in the gloom.
‘I am the Vision of the Future’ the third ghost intoned. I noticed it was as yet unchained. When I enquired about its curious attire, for half of it was as dark and foreboding as the Angel of Darkness and the other even more splendid than the cloak of the Spirit of Progress, the figure replied: ‘Well, that is because it depends on the choices one makes.’
He pointed in a direction where there were no lights, no industries, no prosperity. ‘A wicked witch lives there,’ said the Vision of the Future somberly. “She allows no competition, blocks all progress and interferes in everything. The power stations in her realm, such as there still are, use old technology and have enormous carbon footprints. They are wickedly expensive. The area where she holds sway is doomed forever to remain dark and undeveloped and the rest of the world shuns it.”
“On the other hand …” the ghost turned around and pointed in the other direction. Here the gloom gave way to bright lights. Some nuclear and coal stations were still in evidence where it made sense, but wind, waves, sun and water and new technology all played their part in making this a happy and prosperous land with an abundant and cheap supply of electricity. In the distance one could even see a shimmering new virtual power station. “The wizard here is a wise man,” explained the ghost. “He hired the best people, encouraged independent power producers, introduced competition, pioneered and sponsored the use of renewable energy. Although he kept a close watch, he did not interfere unnecessarily. He took the best from the Age of Progress, banned the age of darkness and gave his people a vision of the future.”
Unfortunately at this point I woke with a start without being able to ask the Vision of the Future how to remain unshackled, but I hope, Sir, that your astute readers will have little trouble pointing out the right way.
Therefore I remain, Sir, your most humble and obedient Servant.
Jacob Marley