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- The UK is bracing for the possibility of organised blackouts this winter under worst-case plans, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
Under a ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’, Britain could face an electricity capacity shortfall amounting to around a sixth of peak demand, Bloomberg said citing people familiar with the government's planning.
In this scenario, below-average temperatures and reduced electricity imports from Norway and France could leave four days in January when the UK may need to launch emergency measures to conserve gas, the people said.
The government does not foresee these shortfalls under its base case planning, Bloomberg said.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-09/uk-braces-for-blackouts-gas-cuts-in-january-in-emergency-plan?srnd=premium-europe
The report comes the same day that Cornwall Insight said the average annual UK energy bill could surpass £4,000 in the new year.
Forecasts for regulator Ofgem's October energy price cap have risen, with predictions now lying at £3,582 for a typical household. The January 2022 cap is now forecast to be £4,266.
Ofgem last week confirmed that the UK energy price cap will be updated quarterly, rather than every six months, as it warned that customers face a ‘very challenging winter ahead’.
Cornwall Insight said: ‘These new forecasts for the January to March 2023 quarter further underline the need for support for households who will struggle to pay their energy bills this winter.’
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