(Newswire.net— March 8, 2018) — Many clocks all over Europe are late because the frequency in the power grid has been under the normal 50 Hz, for some time, and the Serbia – Kosovo electric dispute is to blame, according to The Guardian who cited German media.
Those who are chronically late could not get better news as an excuse – throughout Europe radio clocks, as well as clocks on microwave ovens and stoves, are late – if they are connected to a power grid, Frankfurter Algemajne Cajtung reports.
The frequency of the current network in Europe is 49,996 instead of the regular 50 hertz, and that’s why clocks are getting more and more late, FAC reports.
They point out that the delay is five to six minutes, and it is likely to increase over time.
The reason for this is that there is a supply deficit in the European electricity market since mid-January, as announced on Tuesday in Brussels by the European Association of Electricity Network.
Due to the ongoing political conflict between Serbia and Kosovo, less electricity is flowing into the continental network to which 25 countries have been connected, from Turkey to the Netherlands.
The dispute on the supply of electricity between Serbia and Kosovo originates since the unilateral secession of the southern Serbian province Kosovo has been proclaimed, supported by Western countries.
Since Serbia invested in power plants and the electric power grid in Kosovo, it is not as if the secession could automatically make this property change owners, the Serbs claim.
Kosovo Albanians, however, believe it is their right to exploit all that lies on the territory they claimed as insurgents sponsored by NATO.
The frequency of the network is never stable. Network owners usually react instantly when the frequency exceeds 50 hertz or falls below that value and adjust the power supply to the current situation. According to European rules, this should happen in the Balkans as well.
Since mid-January, Kosovo is storing insufficient amounts of electricity, and Serbia refuses to fill that gap arguing that EU has to explain to Kosovo authorities that it is Serbian property. If not, it is up to Kosovo to manage the resources.
The EU, however, is displaying hypocrisy by acknowledging Kosovo’s authority on one side, but pressuring Serbia to resolve the issue on the other side, because Kosovo has no resources to do so.
Meanwhile, the electric clocks in EU are lost in time.