Danger! Danger! High voltage

The proliferation of technologies such as electric vehicles and solar panels is making voltage levels on electricity distribution networks more volatile. Although still rare, incidents of voltages straying beyond regulatory and technological limits, creating headaches for consumers, are becoming more common over time.

If network operators fail to act, developing the ability to measure and control voltage levels more precisely, they risk becoming a barrier to progress and subject to the same unwanted attention they are already receiving over the connections queue.

However, the issue is also prompting a wider rethink of the way they manage voltage on their networks. Some believe this presents an exciting opportunity to save consumers substantial amounts of energy and money by operating the network at lower voltages, although not everyone is convinced.

Utility Week investigates.