So will we be able to keep the lights on this winter?

Ministers plan for energy shortages but play down power cut fears

MINISTERS are in talks about reopening a giant gas storage facility in case European supplies from Russia are cut off.

The discussions with energy firm Centrica form part of contingency plans being explored ahead of winter and amid the war in Ukraine.

Yesterday Downing Street said the Government does not ‘expect’ power cuts, despite reports that as many as 6million households could be hit this winter.

Another contingency plan involves extending the life of a nuclear power station.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is looking at keeping the Hinkley Point B plant in Somerset open longer than planned – but only if it complies with ‘safety certification’, a minister has revealed. A No 10 spokesman played down fears of power cuts and rationing, saying: ‘I think you would expect government to look at a range of scenarios to ensure plans are robust, no matter how unlikely they are to pass.

‘Neither the Government or National Grid expect power cuts this winter. We are in a fortunate position – we are not dependent on Russian energy imports and have one of the most reliable and diverse energy systems.’ Centrica’s facility in Yorkshire was mothballed in 2017 when the Government refused to subsidise it.

But the Government said it may now be prepared to contribute to re-establishing a strategic gas reserve.

The talks are part of plans for a ‘reasonable worst case scenario’ in which Russia shuts off all gas supplies to Europe, resulting in Norwegian supplies being redirected from the UK to Europe.

Culture minister Chris Philp was asked yesterday about reports that ministers have been warned of potential power cuts to as many as 6million households this winter. The reports said the Government has drawn up plans for rationed electricity if supply issues deteriorate. Last month, Mr Kwarteng wrote to the owners of the three remaining coal-fired power stations to ask them to stay open longer than planned. They were due to be closed to help reach climate change targets.

When asked about the risks of keeping the nuclear plant at Hinkley Point B open, Mr Philp stressed ‘safety is paramount’.

No extension to the life of any power station would take place ‘unless the safety certification had been done in a very thorough way’.

Hinkley Point B started generating electricity in 1976. In November 2020 it was announced that it was to move into decommissioning within the next two years.

Mr Philp told Times Radio: ‘What Kwasi Kwarteng did last week was take some sensible precautionary measures.’

A Government spokesman said: ‘It remains our firm commitment to end the use of coal power by October 2024.’

HOW is it that the surge in demand for air travel during the school holidays always comes as a complete surprise to those who manage our aviation system?

As soon as the half-term or Easter bell sounds, airports descend into chaos, leaving millions of passengers steaming with rage and wondering why they bothered. This week is no exception. Indeed it seems worse than usual – if that’s possible.

With flight cancellations, massive queues at check-in and passport control, and IT breakdowns, families are paying inflated ticket prices for a miserable Third World experience. Operators and airports blame Covid absences and staff shortages. But isn’t it just appallingly bad management?

They laid off too many workers during the pandemic – despite furlough payments – and now both they and consumers are paying the price.

And it’s not just air travel that’s in meltdown. There were four-hour queues for Dover ferries on Sunday. And as militant rail unions plot a disastrous series of strikes, the boss of the Rail Delivery Group spends most of her week at home.

Where is the sense of responsibility? The commitment to customer service? The urgency? The pandemic is effectively over, yet our transport network remains in a self-induced coma.

There can be no more excuses. Efficient connectivity is key to our economic success. Without it, Britain’s recovery is on a slow train to nowhere.