The amount of energy used during the Royal Wedding was much greater than predicted according to figures released by the National Grid.

The National Grid had predicted lower interest in last Friday’s event, but a surge in TV viewing meant it was the fourth highest energy sapping event in UK television history.

Electricity use peaked at 2,400MW as television coverage followed the newly married Mr and Mrs Windsor back to Buckingham Palace following their wedding in Westminster Cathedral at around 12.40pm.

It was predicted that Charles and Diana’s wedding would remain the most watched royal wedding but their son and his beautiful wife managed to top even theirs. Charles and Diana’s wedding saw an energy surge of 1,800MW which is the equivalent of 720,000 kettles being bottled simultaneously, William and Kate’s was the equivalent of almost one million kettles.

National Grid’s power system manager, John Carnwath, said: “This impact in demand was broadly in line with our forecast, although the final surge was larger than expected, reflecting the huge interest in the event.”

“It was a fascinating day to work in our control room, seeing the huge impact on electricity demand of millions of people across Britain being brought together by William and Kate’s wedding.”

The only TV events to top the wedding were:

·The record of 2800MW set at the end of the nail-biting penalty shoot-out after England’s World Cup semi-final against West Germany in 1990.

·The 2600MW surge in demand after a 1984 episode of The Thornbirds.

·The 2570MW surge at half-time during England’s quarter-final match against Brazil in the 2002 World Cup.

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Edie.

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton tomorrow (April 29) is not going to burn through as much energy as William’s parents.

A number of different factors are likely to lead to greatly increased demand on the UK’s energy system, but not on the scale of the 1981 wedding of Charles and Diane, according to researchers from the National Grid.

The 1981 event saw an energy surge of 1800 megawatts, that’s the equivalent of 720,000 kettles being boiled at the same time, as the nation stared at TV sets and enjoyed a cuppa.

However, the National Grid control centre is predicting a boiling-kettle-driven pick up in power of between only 1200 and 1600 megawatts when the pair exchanges their vows in Westminster Abbey.

Power will, say National Grid, rise steadily throughout the morning, but as the televised coverage begins there will be an overall decrease in demand as millions of people watch television rather than pursuing their usual, more energy-intensive, activities.

Sudden surges in demand will come after viewers have watched specific moments in the ceremony such as Kate’s arrival and procession up the aisle, the couple’s vows and the moment they appear on the steps of Westminster Abbey as a married couple.

According to the National Grid after these significant moments, viewers will leave their television sets to switch their kettles on, and this activity will result in an increase in demand.

A spokesman said: “While public interest around William and Kate is greater than it has been around more recent royal events. “

“The forecasting team isn’t expecting the impact on demand to be as big as for Charles and Diana’s wedding, which belongs to a different era. “

“The entire forecasting team at National Grid is proud of the role they play in making sure families across the country can enjoy watching this special day.”

There is still likely to be more energy used than for lesser royals Edward and Sophie’s wedding, more recently in 1999, which saw just a 750 megawatt increase.

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Edie.

Construction firms are trying to get round paying workers a day’s extra holiday for the royal wedding, union Ucatt claims.

A spokesperson said the union had been inundated with calls from workers concerned their employers are trying to duck paying them wages on the extra bank holiday on Friday 29^th April.

According to the union the most common ruse is to introduce a shutdown in the week beginning Easter Monday (April 25), to avoid paying workers for an extra day’s holiday.

But Ucatt says workers are entitled to pay on the bank holiday under terms agreed under the Construction Industry Joint Council Working Rule Agreement earlier this year.

A Ucatt spokesperson said: “We are getting lots of calls. Companies are trying to get out of paying this any way they can.”

George Guy, Ucatt acting general secretary, said: “It is very disappointing that employers are still trying to wheedle their way out of paying for one additional day’s bank holiday.

“Dedicated construction workers have been through very difficult times in recent years as a result of the recession. The very least they deserve is for employers to honour this holiday.”

Scotland has had a very high proportion of contractors trying to revolt against giving workers a paid day’s holiday.

Harry Frew, regional secretary for UCATT Scotland, said: “Companies need to honour the decision to make the Royal Wedding a paid bank holiday.”

He threatened: “If employers try to prevent UCATT members receiving this extra day, we will take all means necessary to secure them their full leave.”

Here at BuilderScrap we would like to wish William and Kate all the best and hope all the contractors allow their employees to enjoy the day off!