Power industry faces skills gap
UNITED KINGDOM - The UK power industry needs to train twice as many people if it is to meet demand for 65,000 new workers by 2024.
With four out of five employees set to retire over the next 15 years, there are serious questions about Britain's ability to keep the lights on, the National Skills Academy for Power NSAP is warning. The engineering and construction industries alone will need between 17,000 and 35,000 skilled staff.
"The extent and size of this skills gap raises serious questions about the capability of the UK power sector to be able to maintain supply over the coming years," Steve Davies, the chief executive of the NSAP, said.
"This may seem like a dramatic statement but coupled with the drive for cleaner power, increasing demand and pressures to seek out more renewable energy sources, it is clear that the workforce in this sector needs significant investment if UK plc is to have the power it requires into the future," he said.
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Power grab: 5 arrested after Hydro-Québec busts electricity theft ring
MONTREAL - Five people have been arrested in connection with an electricity theft ring alleged to have operated for five years.
The thefts were allegedly committed by the owners of rental properties who used stolen personal information to create accounts with Hydro-Québec.
The utility alleges that between 2014 and 2019, Mario Brousseau, Simon Brousseau-Ouellette and their accomplices defrauded Hydro-Québec of up to $300,000 worth of electricity. It was impossible for Hydro-Québec’s customer service section to detect the fraud because the information on the accounts, while stolen, was also genuine.
The suspects are expected to face 25 counts of fraud, conspiracy and identity theft.
Hydro-Québec…
