LETTER : Lights out at night

From Mr Ronald Hill

Sir: Bill Rich ("At home with a power-hungry phantom", 20 April) should not despair. About 30 years ago I read in Estates Gazette an account of a consumer in the South-west whose electricity bills rocketed.

The electricity board changed the meter, checked all the appliances and agreed that, going night and day, that much electricity could never be used, but, as that was what the meter said, the bills would have to be paid.

One night, while watching the meter hurtle round, the consumer had a thought; he opened the mains switch and 28 street lights went out! Mr Rich has no street lights, but he could try switching off one night and see if anything else goes dark.

Yours sincerely,

RONALD HILL

Sidcup, Kent

20 April