instead or perhaps as well as power cuts, they should think about all the buildings lit up at night

[MrsLargeEmbodied]

total waste of electricity
causes light pollution
what exactly are the benefits?

Can't believe this hasn't been done yet... already happening in a lot of European countries, along with closing the doors on shops and lowering the temperature in public buildings (most people only heat their houses to around 20 - why should public buildings/shops be a lot hotter?). The U.K. could start with shops in shopping centres, where the centre is already warm and most shops doors are away from any cold air coming in from outside