Switch off ...or face blackouts
Power cuts warning in supply fears
HOUSEHOLDS may be urged to restrict lighting and heating under emergency plans to avoid blackouts this winter.
The UK Government has drawn up contingency measures amid fears of a gas and electricity supply shortage.
It could make an appeal to people through TV, radio, social media and posters to turn down their heating and switch off lights.
Ministers have already warned that about six million households could face power cuts this winter.
But insiders believe record-high energy prices will lead to a natural decrease in demand.
Annual bills could soar to as much as £3244 under the October price cap and may even reach £3363 from next January, analysts have warned.
Several European countries including Germany, Austria and France have already asked citizens to take steps including shorter showers to mitigate the problem.
EU states have been urged to reduce their gas usage by 15 per cent next month as supply has fallen in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Much of the continent’s supply comes from or through those lands.
The National Grid has held talks with energy intensive industries to try to avoid blackouts in the coming months. It could even pay large consumers to switch off to avoid having to cut domestic supply across the country.
Arjan Geveke, director of the Energy Intensive Users Group, which represents industry, said appeals to use less energy would be the Government’s first step.
He added: “First of all they will want to do a public information campaign because that’s the least costly of the options.
“There’s obviously an increased risk of security of supply in the winter.”
The National Grid has encouraged electricity firms to consider paying households to use energy when supply is at its peak, such as high wind power, and reduce usage at other times.
A No10 spokesman said: “The UK has no issues with either gas or electricity supply and the Government is fully prepared for any scenario, even those that are extreme and very unlikely to occur.
“National Grid Gas has standard, long-standing emergency procedures in place to protect the integrity of Britain’s gas network in the extremely unlikely event of a supply emergency.
“Ministers are not involved in this process.”