BRITISH households could lose power for up to three hours at a time this winter if gas supplies run extremely low, National Grid has warned reports the BBC.
The company said it was an “unlikely” scenario but added that supply interruptions were a possibility if the energy crisis escalated.
Cuts would probably occur at peak times such as morning or early evening, and customers would be warned in advance.
But as a “base case” National Grid expects homes will face no problems.
The UK is heavily reliant on gas to produce electricity, with gas-fired power stations generating more than 40% of the country’s electricity. It also imports electricity from the Continental Europe.
National Grid – which keeps the lights on in England, Scotland and Wales – said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had created “unprecedented turmoil and volatility” in the energy markets.
Gas flows from Russia to Europe have been all but cut off, leaving countries scrambling for alternative supplies.
Although Britain is far less reliant on Russian gas than mainland Europe, it could still suffer knock-on effects from any shortfalls in supplies on the continent, National Grid said.
In a report, National Grid laid out three possible scenarios for what might happen this winter.
Its central view remains that there will be enough gas to provide Britain with similar levels of electricity to previous winters.
But it has modelled two more worrying scenarios which could arise.
In the first, the energy crisis in Europe would result in Britain not being able to import electricity from France, Belgium or the Netherlands, although power would still flow from Norway. Without taking action, the National Grid warned this could lead to shortages.
However, it said it had struck deals with three power companies – EDF, Drax and Uniper – to keep additional coal-fired power generators on standby in case they are needed.
It will also launch a scheme from 1 November which incentivises businesses and households to reduce their electricity use at key times.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63155827
