National Grid 'could attract online hackers' - 17/01/2011
Those wishing to switch gas might be concerned to hear that an IT expert has predicted a significant cyber attack on the national grid.
James Martin, a long-standing government advisor on online security, told the Independent that the only way to ensure Britain's cheap electricity network is safe is to disconnect it from the internet.
He noted that national grids both in the UK and the US are leaving themselves open to attack.
"The country is totally dependent on its electricity. It's totally dependent on its power grid and in the US there are 10,000 electric power stations and there are many hundred thousand miles of grid connecting them together, [so] the grid is exceedingly complex," he pointed out.
"There is almost no storage so it's got to switch electricity constantly to get the electricity from the generator to the customer by a very complex path and it's doing that all the time, constantly. And everything is controlled by computers, totally and absolutely."
To combat such threats, the government must not be afraid to intervene in private companies' business and warn those that run the network about the dangers posed, Mr Martin added.
If you want to find out more about gas and electricity and how you could save up to £468 in minutes, click here.
Save up to £300 on your gas & electricity bills at energyhelpline.com
Compare prices from all energy suppliers to find your best deal