Maurizio Bragagni Esq Obe

City, University of London · Faculty of Management

Democracy and oligarchy have always fought to prevail since Athens and Sparta.

Once bulk 3 phase AC electricity has been generated it has to be transmitted to the populated areas where it is required and then distributed to the individual users. Almost everyone will be familiar with the sight of a line of overhead electric conductors stretching far off into the distance, supported from tall steel lattice towers or even small wooden poles but does everyone appreciate why overhead conductors are used instead of the buried cables which are invariably used within cities and towns? Electric power, be it generated in traditional power stations or by sources of renewable energy generated by solar or windfarms has got to be transported to the end customer or user, as economically, efficiently and safely as possible with of course, the utmost reliability. In the UK there are basically two means of achieving this, by bare overhead conductors or insulated cables buried underground. Bare overhead conductors are the most popular when lots of electrical energy needs to be carried at high voltage, over long distances, across the open countryside or open spaces. Buried insulated cables are the most popular when electrical energy is carried at lower voltages over short distances or within populated areas such as our towns and cities. But why? Note: Currently the most popular form of electricity used is AC and so the vast majority of onshore transmission and distribution lines in the UK are AC lines, these are the lines considered in this paper.

On 1 January 2021 will end the transition period and the UK will be leaving the EU single market and customs union. The UK Government will operationalise import controls on goods moving from the EU to GB, in a manner similar to the UK’s current treatment of Rest of World (RoW) goods. These controls will be introduced in three stages: January 2021, April 2021, and July 2021. It is expected that the EU will also operationalise full import controls on goods moving from GB to the EU from 1 January 2021. As a result, there will be significant changes to the process for moving goods between GB and the EU. All businesses moving goods across the GB-EU border will need to take account of these and adapt accordingly. These changes will take place, regardless the outcome of the ongoing talks between the UK and EU to secure a trade deal. For the countries listed as part of the Customs Union with the EU, the future trade arrangements would be linked to the outcome of the UK/EU free trade agreement negotiations. The UK Government, recognising the impact of coronavirus on businesses’ ability to prepare, has taken the decision to introduce the new border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021. This flexible and pragmatic approach will give industry extra time to make necessary arrangements. The stages are: From January 2021: Traders importing non-controlled goods, covering everything from clothes to electronics, will need to prepare for basic customs requirements, such as keeping sufficient records of imported goods. Traders will also need to consider how they account for and pay VAT on imported goods. 3 _________________________________________________________________________________ Esharelife Foundation, Charity no. 1183101 Baird House, 15-17 St. Cross Street, London, EC1N 8UW Tel: +44 207 101 0741 Website: http://www.esharelife.org/thinktank Email: thinktank@esharelife.org Traders will then have up to six months to complete customs declarations. While tariffs will be payable where due on relevant goods, payments can be deferred until the customs declaration has been made. UK Safety and Security declarations will not be required on imports for the first six months. Full customs declarations will be needed from this date for controlled goods and excise goods like alcohol and tobacco products. There will also be physical checks at the point of destination or other approved premises on all high-risk live animals and high-priority plants and plant products, and a requirement to obtain the relevant documentation and pre-notify for certain movements, but they will not be required to enter GB via a point of entry with an appropriate Border Control Post (BCP). Export declarations and UK exit Safety and Security declarations will be required for all goods. Traders importing and exporting goods using the Common Transit Convention will need to follow all of the transit procedures – these will not be these will not be introduced in stages. The Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) will be introduced from January only for transit movements.