Oct 26 - Evening Standard; London (UK)

BRITAIN'S most powerful electricity generating executive has waded into a row with the Government over power shortages during the expected tough winter ahead.

Some companies could be forced to close down, said Paul Golby, chief executive of German-owned E.On UK, which trades as Powergen.

He told the Standard he does not believe that energy shortages will bring power cuts.

But he warned that the wholesale price of energy will go up "sometimes sharply".

Golby explained in an exclusive interview: "For industry that buys electricity on a daytoday basis, it could leave companies with some pretty dif ficult decisions over whether they continue to operate or simply switch off."

Golby's intervention comes as CBI boss Sir Digby Jones was accused of "scaremongering" by Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks over a warning that companies could be forced into a three-day week.

Wicks went on to admit to BBC Radio's Wake Up To Money programme today: "Is there a concern? For certain industrial users, yes there is."