MP’s have warned that as many as six million households could face electricity rationing in the winter.
The report, based on ‘worst-case scenario’ modelling, said that those affected may face curbs on their usage for as much as one month. During this time, electricity could be switched off between 7 am and 10 am on weekdays, and 4 pm and 9 pm on weekends.
However, this drastic action would only happen as a result of Russia restricting energy to the whole of Europe. This would force limitations on industrial gas usage, which is used to generate around 40% of the electricity in the UK.
Despite the report’s alarming conclusion, the government remained assured that there was no immediate danger. Speaking with PA Media, a spokesperson for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said that 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 pass.
“Thanks to a massive £90bn investment in renewable energy in the last decade, we have one of the most reliable and diverse energy systems in the world, and unlike Europe, we are not dependent on Russian energy imports.”
To mitigate any ‘energy rationing’, the government is considering extending the lifeline of three coal-fired power stations. These were scheduled to shut in 2024 as part of the UK’s ambitious net-zero pledge.
Since late 2020, the UK has been in the throes of one of the worst energy crises in living memory. High demand in Asia combined with low wind farm output in Europe were two of the key factors which led to unprecedented wholesale prices for natural gas.
The issue has grown markedly worse since Russia invaded Ukraine. Europe gets a large proportion of its natural gas from Kremlin-backed Gazprom, currently around 26%, although this figure was closer to 40% before the war began.
While reliance on Russian exports has been a cause for concern for some time, the growing geopolitical turmoil has heightened concerns that Putin could turn off the faucet to nations he deems to be unfriendly.
These fears were realised as Russia began making demands that European nations pay for their gas imports in roubles – rather than dollars or euros – as a means to prop up its ailing economy. As doing this undermines sanctions, many countries have refused, which resulted in Gazprom turning off supplies.
While the UK only gets around 4% of its natural gas directly from Russia, the interconnected nature of networks still leaves it vulnerable to market turmoil. As a result, the government has been working on increasing its energy security by improving domestic output and storage capacity.
