歐洲電價為何創下歷史新高？
In Europe the cost of electricity is soaring. Prices had been rising steadily this year, as economic recoveries got under way. But they have spiked in the past few weeks. What explains the surge?
在歐洲，電價正在急劇上升。隨著經濟開始復蘇，今年的電價壹直在穩步上漲。但在過去的這幾周內，電價突然飆升。這次猛漲的原因何在呢？
One problem is the supply of natural gas, used to generate about a fifth of Europe's electricity. Shortages have pushed its price — and so the price of electricity — higher. About a third of European supply comes from Russia; another fifth comes from Norway. Both countries have been hit with disruptions, such as a fire at a processing plant in Siberia, causing lower-than-expected supply.
其中壹個問題出在天然氣上。歐洲約五分之壹的電力都由天然氣生產。天然氣短缺推動了天然氣價格上漲，也因而促使電力價格上升。歐洲約三分之壹的天然氣由俄羅斯供應，另外的五分之壹則來自挪威，而這兩個國家（的天然氣產量）都受到了嚴重影響，比如發生在西伯利亞壹家加工廠的火災，就導致天然氣供應量低於預期。
Another factor is the wind — or lack of it. About a tenth of Europe's power is generated by the wind. In some countries, including Germany and Britain, the share is twice that***. Recently, however, the air has been unusually still.
另壹個因素則是風力——或者說風力不足。歐洲約十分之壹的電力由風能生產。在包括德國和英國在內的壹些國家，風力發電量的占比是整個歐洲的兩倍。然而，近來的空氣異常平靜無風。
The high power prices are most pronounced in Britain. That is because it is particularly reliant on gas and wind. Another factor is that Britain is less connected than its neighbours to the European grid, which helps to spread the supply and demand of electricity across the continent and so makes prices less volatile.
電價高昂這壹現象在英國最為顯著。因為英國尤其依賴天然氣和風能發電，且與其他歐洲鄰國相比，英國與歐洲電網的聯通程度較低。歐洲電網幫助把電力的供給與需求分散到整個歐洲大陸，從而減少用電價格波動。
Analysts expect prices to remain elevated throughout the winter, when demand for heating and power peaks. That is bad news for European consumers, who will bear much of the cost. Some countries are already trying to protect them.
分析人士預計，在整個供暖和用電需求達到峰值的冬季，電價都會保持在較高水平。這對承擔大部分用電開銷的歐洲消費者來說並不是壹個好消息。壹些國家已經在（采取措施）試圖保護消費者。
But policymakers will not be able to protect consumers from the most extreme impacts of a natural-gas shortage. Some analysts think that a particularly cold winter could trigger blackouts. Eye-watering utility bills may be the least of Europe's worries.
但決策者們並不能夠保護消費者免受天然氣供應不足所帶來的最極端的影響。壹些分析人士認為，異常寒冷的冬季可能會引發停電。（到那時）天價電費對歐洲來說，可能就算不上是什麽大問題了。
主編：Hoby、Mia
品控：木子
審核：夏天
重點詞匯
record high
歷史新高
相關詞匯：record（n. 紀錄）
搭配短語：record floods
相關詞匯：high（n. 最高水平，最大數量）
英文釋義：the highest amount or level that something has ever reached
搭配短語：to reach a record high / to reach record highs
例句：China's thermal coal prices surged to fresh record highs as recent floods in Shanxi worsened supply woes.
soar
/s?r/
v. 急升，猛漲；快速上升，騰飛
例句：A bird soared into the air.
詞義辨析：surge, soar
surge 表示“增長”時，指的是 to increase suddenly and strongly（“激增，急劇上升”），更強調增長出現得很突然、幅度很大。
例句：Share prices surged.（股價突然暴漲。）
soar 在描述數字時，指的是 to rise very quickly to a high level（“猛增，驟升”），側重點是增長速度快，並且最終達到了壹個很高的水平。
例句：The stock market has soared to new heights.（股市大漲，創下了歷史新高。）
get under way
開始
相關詞匯：under way，也寫作 underway（adj. 某事已經或正在發生）
英文釋義：already happened or happening
搭配短語：be under way
英文釋義：begin
例句：The tourist season got under way.
spike
/spa?k/
v. 激增
近義詞：soar
disruption
/d?s?r?p.?n/
n. 擾亂，中斷
相關詞匯：disrupt（v. 擾亂，中斷）
例句：A heavy fall of snow had disrupted the city's transport system.
例句：A heavy fall of snow had caused disruptions to the city's transport system.
power
/?pa?.?/
n. 電力；能源；能力
搭配短語：wind power
近義詞：electricity
口語表達：-Mom, the power went off!
口語表達：-Never mind, the power just came back on!
搭配短語：a power outage
share
/?er/
n. 份額，份
詞性拓展：share（v. 分享）
搭配短語：a share in the profits
still
/st?l/
adj.（空氣，水）平靜的，寂靜的
詞性拓展：still（adv. 仍然，還）
英文釋義：not moving
pronounced
/pr?na?nst/
adj. 顯著的，明顯的
例句：He still has a pronounced English accent.
reliant
/r?la?.?nt/
adj. 依賴的，依靠的
相關詞匯：rely（v. 依靠，依賴）
詞根詞綴：-ant（處於某種狀態）
搭配短語：be reliant on sth.
volatile
/?vɑ?.l?.t?l/
adj. 動蕩不定的；易揮發的；變化無常的
搭配短語：a volatile substance（易揮發的）
例句：He has a volatile temper.（變化無常的）
elevated
/?el.?.ve?.t?d/
adj.（水平、溫度等）偏高的
相關詞匯：elevate（v. 擡起；提高）
相關詞匯：elevator（n. 電梯）
詞根詞綴：-or（構成名詞）
詞根詞綴：-ed（構成形容詞）
搭配短語：elevated blood sugar levels
近義詞：high blood sugar
peak
/pi?k/
v. 達到峰值
詞性拓展：peak（n. 峰值）
搭配短語：reach a peak
搭配短語：sth. peaks
bear
/ber/
v. 負擔（開支），承擔（費用）
詞性拓展：bear（n. 熊）
英文釋義：If someone bears the cost of something, they pay for it.
trigger
/?tr?ɡ.?/
v. 引發，誘發
詞性拓展：trigger（n. 扳機；誘因）
搭配短語：pull the trigger（扣動扳機）
搭配短語：a trigger for sth.（某事的誘因、導火索）
例句：Stress is the trigger for hair loss.
例句：Some people found that coffee triggers their headaches.
近義詞：cause
blackout
/?bl?k.a?t/
n. 斷電，停電
近義詞：power outage
搭配短語：the New York City blackout of 1977
相關詞匯：black out（使壹片漆黑）
例句：In 1977, the New York City was blacked out.
eye-watering
/?a?wɑ?.t?.?/
adj.（數額）極大
例句：The costs were eye-watering.
the least of someone's worries
某人最不需要擔心的事
英文釋義：a problem that is less of a concern than another one