Electricity bills - a thing of the past?
Published 05 January, 2008, 16:49
In the southern Russian republic of North Ossetia a small highland village is powered by an old mine fan and a mountain stream. An amateur engineer has built his own private power station and he shares the electricity with the entire neighbourhood. But while the threat of black-outs is a thing of the past, the same can't be said of threats from the local authorities.
A miniature hydro-electric power station has appeared in a small mountain village after a glacier virtually cut the twelve houses off from the rest of the world and started causing regular blackouts. The creator of the station, Akhshar Varziev, built it from whatever scrap he could get hold of.
The whole power generating complex is part of Akhshar's house, which is half ancient fortress and half shabby log cabin.
The inventor is not the sole user of the free electricity as his neighbours also get to benefit, despite not contributing to its construction.
Local authorities are, however, sceptical and cautious.
