Brussels, 15/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Taking part in the plenary debate on Monday evening on the European power failure of 4 November this year (EUROPE 9300), Claude Turmes (Greens, Luxembourg) again called for a real unbundling of power production and transmission by energy operators and for the decentralisation of electricity production. “The EU must learn the lessons of this and previous blackouts: the high voltage grid is the backbone of secure electricity supply and its proper functioning must be guaranteed”, Mr Turmes said, before going on to say: “The management of these grids should be designated as a service of general interest in Europe”. “There needs to be complete unbundling of grid management from other commercial activities, like power production and retail, with a European regulator to guarantee transparency and monitor potential problem areas”, he said. “However, there also needs to be a more fundamental shift towards decentralising power production closer to its users, such as combined heating/cooling and power plants based on biomass or high efficiency gas condensation plants. Decentralised production closer to the demand will reduce grid pressures”, Mr Turmes concluded. (eh)