TO MEET a given electrical load, if the voltage is lowered then the current must be increased. Unfortunately, the electricity low voltage mains cable or overhead line copper losses increase in proportion to the square of the current. However, the EU Commissioners, in their dash to standardise the voltage throughout Europe at 230 volts failed to appreciate this natural law.

Moreover, their recently published Strategic Energy Review fails to remedy this lost opportunity to save electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Previously the UK's public electricity supply was nominally 240 volts, with a statutory maximum variation of -6% to +6% (ie 226V to 254V). The European Union's new statutory limits, enforceable since 2003, are a nominal 230V with statutory limits -10% +6% (ie 207V to 244V) - motors and fluorescent lights may not work at all in 207 volts but this is now legally acceptable!

Following nationalisation, Britain took two decades to accomplish standardisation at 240 volts. This efficiency is now being lost.

An estimate of the additional low voltage electricity distribution copper losses in Britain, by operating the system 10 volts lower at 230 volts, is at least 6,160 million kilowatt hours per year. These losses will increase year on year - which as well as being a complete waste, the consumers have to pay for.

Similarly, if the rest of the EU were to adopt a 240 volt supply, up from 230 volt, the savings on their estimated consumption would be a minimum of 462,000 million kilowatt hours per year. In practice, far greater savings would be made - by countries now operating at 220 volts - by member states accepting the 6% statutory variation - and through the annual natural growth of demand. The previous efficient British 240 voltage system should now be adopted throughout the EU as a matter of urgency, with a time limit for its completion.

Such a misguided energy review emphasises the fact that neither the Latvian energy commissioner, the other 26 commissioners, or even our own minister responsible for energy, have grasped the implications of copper losses effect on electricity mains distribution. Unfortunately the EU's weighted voting system, which favours all the small states, enables such laws to be passed at our expense. The effect being to exacerbate carbon dioxide emissions and global warming - the exact opposite of the intentions of the energy review.

JOHN RIDDINGTON, Dorset.