A new high-voltage electricity cable to Princetown went live this week, bringing the prospect of a more reliable supply to the moorland town.

The cable has been laid by Western Power Distribution, the US company formerly part of Sweb, to reduce the frequency and duration of power interruptions in the area.

One of the immediate beneficiaries is Wheal Lucky House at Rundlestone, whose owner Nigel Tigwell has been able to connect to the cable as it runs close to his home.

As a result he has been able to dispense with the wind turbine, which has been a landmark of Dartmoor since 1993, as Wheal Lucky House is the third highest dwelling on Dartmoor.

Clearly visible from the road between Merrivale and Two Bridges, the turbine attracted several dozen casual visitors each year, mainly passing motorists and hill walkers.

Now it has been taken down and moved two and a quarter miles to Walkhampton, where Paul Phillips, of Routrundle Farm, like a few other locals, is still not on the mains.

In a couple of weeks he should benefit from replacing a smaller wind device and two diesel generators. This should deliver a more effective power system for the farm.

Meanwhile, back at Wheal Lucky House Mr Tigwell will be getting used to the modern way of life. He will be able to use his electrical machines whenever he wants, instead of having to run the tumble-drier, washing machine and dishwasher simultanaeously, in order to comply with the requirements of his diesel generator.

He will also have to get used to paying electricity bills for the first time at Rundlestone. He expects his yearly charge to be around £500; up to now he has only had to pay £120 a year for diesel.

'We will have to think twice about leaving the lights on,' he said.

The Wheal Lucky House wind turbine attracted a lot of publicity and persuaded a number of visitors to buy their own wind power systems.

It was an early production model of a successful design by Proven Engineering, of Kilmarnock, with a guyless mast and running with low noise and high generating efficiency.

Proven Engineering has built on its reputation to instal many similar turbines in other parts of the UK where mains electricity does not reach and to export across the world.