A three-pronged approach to preventing power cuts this winter

National Grid is planning for every eventuality this winter. As published in the winter outlooks last week, the base case modelling by the Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Gas System Operator – which is the most likely scenario over the coming months – shows that there will be sufficient supply of electricity and gas to meet customer demand.

The alternative scenario provided by the ESO shows that some consumers may see disruptions to power if there is no electricity being exported from Europe and there are also interruptions to the UK’s gas supplies.

As the sector will know, these scenarios are not forecasts and the system operators have a range of tools to help them reduce demand if it looks like it may outstrip supply.

There are immediate and long-term actions that we can swiftly take together to make power cuts even less likely this winter.

Firstly, we must collectively encourage all eligible business and households to sign up to the ESO’s Demand Reduction Service, which is launching next month. This is new and innovative technology. Put simply, the more people that sign up, the more demand can be spread over the course of a day and the less likely margins are to tighten further.

Secondly, we must ensure that we collaborate – with the intention to quickly act – on removing the hurdles to delivering the clean energy infrastructure that will create a more energy independent UK. This will not only remove the possibility of gas being weaponised, but with the right regulatory and policy framework will deliver, jobs, growth and inward investment to the UK.

For this to happen, planning policy must be streamlined, anticipatory investment must be unlocked through clarification of regulation, and communities must understand how they will benefit from hosting this critical national infrastructure. In achieving this, we will not only further strengthen security of supply but also unlock a green jobs pipeline.

Thirdly, we must continue to work with our European neighbours. Collaboration must not be limited to within our sector and energy sharing must continue over the winter months. We welcome the recent progress made towards re-joining the North Sea Energy Coordination Group.

This three-pronged approach will be key to protecting consumers this winter and during the decades ahead.

One further, immediate, action that must be taken is for the sector, government and the regulator to consider how it can support vulnerable customers in the unlikely event that disconnections are mandated by the ESO. We must ensure that this is a priority over the weeks ahead. Consumers will, rightly, be looking to the sector for guidance and support.

Over the long term, a shift to clean energy is the clearest route to getting bills back down again, and to increased security of supply. As we progress this transition together, we must also collaborate meaningfully on supporting vulnerable customers this winter.