Michael Gove admitting restraints on energy usage by non-domestic customers may be needed
(Picture: PA Wire)Britain may have to introduce “restraints” on energy use to get the country through the winter, senior Tory MP Michael Gove said on Thursday.
The former Levelling-up Secretary said rationing should not be imposed for domestic households.
But he signalled that some restrictions could be required for businesses or the public sector to limit energy usage, with the cost of gas having sky-rocketed following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and his cutting back on supplies to Europe.
Mr Gove told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Nobody likes the idea of rationing.
“But if we look at our European neighbours and others there have been some restriction on the use of energy in non-domestic settings.
“Personally, I don’t think we should try to have individuals rationing energy.”
He backed energy firms making clear to customers how they could scale back on their use of gas and electricity, and also for people to think about measures such as better insulation for their homes and other buildings.
He added: “It may be the case that in certain non-domestic settings that there need to be some form of restraint in the way that energy is used.”
Ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak, at the Conservative leadership hustings in London on Wednesday night, did not rule out that some form of energy rationing might be required.
However, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss rejected the idea that such a dramatic step may be needed.
Millions of households face seeing their energy bills soar from £1,971 to £3,549 in October as the cost-of-living crisis bites, with inflation already above ten per cent and forecast to climb even higher.
Ministers insist that the country is not facing the threat of blackouts this winter.
