Winter blackouts are being planned as part of the 'reasonable worst case scenario' preparations by the UK Government. The planned blackouts mean the energy in households and businesses would be turned off for hours during the coldest months of the year.
As the UK stores less gas than countries like France and Germany, emergency measures could be enacted if imports run low. Worsening matters is the high cost of importing gas from abroad since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Telegraph has reported that the UK's gas network has been preparing for more than a month, with similar talks in the electricity network. The rationing is a process called load-shedding that is common in developing countries, says Mark Nelson, managing director of consultancy Radiant Energy Group.
He explained: "Many developing countries have load-shedding, billions of people know what this means, it's just rich countries have not had to deal with it."
If Russia cuts its supply to the EU, blackouts could start in December and last for months, says the Telegraph. They say ministers have been told energy rationing may be needed at the start of 2023 between 7am and 10am and from 4pm to 9pm.
Mr Nelson said: "People will relearn lots of things about daily rhythms of life before they had central heat or cheap electricity. It's a hard way to live and, as a society, Britain hasn't had to do this for a very long time.
"Tea will become one of the main sources of warm comfort because it doesn't take that much energy to boil a bit of water for tea."
One insider told the newspaper that a national advertising campaign will be needed to explain to people why there are going to be blackouts, and what action they should take. The Government has been planning action in case of blackouts since May.
Gas-fired power stations could close along with factories that use large amounts of gas.
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