People have been warned they could be facing three hour power outages as a combination of circumstances mean demand could outstrip supply.
After almost 30 years of stable electricity services the National Grid has told people that a 'worst case scenario' would see planned outages of three hours. However people are being advised this is "unlikely".
But concerns over the real risk of an outage appeared closer than ever after the National Grid raised power supply warnings twice in the last 10 days. While additional measures were able to see these swiftly withdrawn it has left many people concerned they will face a blackout before too much longer.
So what happens if there is a planned outage? How long will it last and what will it mean to people?
With most devices in homes relying on electricity will the food in the fridge and freezer be destined for the waste bin? Here we take a look at all you need to know about the possibility of a blackout and whether you need to be worried.
When were there last blackouts?
In the early 1970s there were a number of planned blackouts after then Prime Minister Ted Heath introduced a three-day working week to save energy as a result of industrial action by coal miners and rail workers. Action during 1972 led to the three-day week in the following year. This means non-essential businesses could only operate for three consecutive days a week.
That's a long time ago - so why are they now a possible problem again?
Power has been pretty stable for decades however Russia's war in Ukraine has made it a lot more uncertain. While the UK does not rely on imported gas from Russia it does use some from Europe during the winter. This could be limited as a result of the ongoing conflict.
With demand for things such as heating rising when the temperatures drop put together with the war on Ukraine it means there are concerns over whether suppies will match demand.
What causes power outages?
Blackouts happen if gas shortages and falling temperatures leave the country short of power. The National Grid is finely tuned to make sure the amount of electricity being put into the grid through power plants and wind farms for example matches the amount being used by homes and businesses.
If this falls out of balance it can cause major breakdowns in the grid which can sometimes take days to fix. If the grid knows the demand is likely to exceed availablity it can then plan power cuts to prevent any significant damage to the equipment. This means people could face planned outages rather than unplanned ones which could cause more issues.
When will blackouts happen?
The National Grid has said planned outages are a worst case scenario. However if they do happen it will be during the busiest time of the day - between 4pm and 7pm - and probably in the first two months of 2023. This will only happen if there is a shortage however current problems following Russia's invasion of Ukraine mean there is a possiblity the country might struggle to import sufficient gas from Europe.
According to the National Grid’s chief executive, John Pettigrew, blackouts could happen in January and February. About half the energy on the grid comes from gas however coal-powered power stations could be put on standby which could ease the burdon.
To help reduce the risk of homes being left in darkness, the grid could put coal-power power stations on standby. It has also looking to encourage customers to change to less busy times for using their electricity. the National Grid continues to insist is hopes to maintain power to homes and businesses.
What if they can't -will we get any warning?
If it is decided a planned outage is necessary people would be given at least 24 hours warning. However if it is an unplanned outage it is unlikely a warning would have been possible. They are likely to be carried out on a rolling basis which means different areas will be without power at different times.
People will be given notice through local and national media and government channels.
What will happen in a blackout?
According to the Energy Network Association (ENA) outages would affected everything from homes to streetlights. Even traffic lights in affected areas will go off. An ENA spokesman told The Independent: "“It wouldn’t be business as usual."
They added: “The purpose of this would be an emergency. If we don’t reduce demand on the power network we do result in having more widespread power outages that are less controlled so it’s about controlling that by reducing demand and bringing the system back into balance and then beginning to manage the emergency.”
Local network operators would put the blackouts in place. They are contacted by the National Grid and told to cut their power usage by a specific amount. They disconnect the power by opening a circuit breaker which can then be easily altered once it is no longer necessary. Anyone who falls within the disconnected area will be without power.
How long will they last?
The National Grid has said any planned blackouts will last for three hours.
If they go ahead will we get compensation?
According to the Mirror this is unlikely. While compensation can be paid if people are cut off for some time in an unplanned outage it is not likely under these circumstances as they will be planned and households given warning.
Is there anything to help vulnerable customers?
Network operators will be told to make sure those who have additional power needs are protected. This covers care homes and other vital infrastructure. Fine details of how this would be carried out has not been outlined.
However Fiona Loud, police director of the National Kidney Care UK, told the Manchester Evening News there were still concerns. She said: "Thousands of people undertake their life-saving dialysis treatment at home because this works for them and is medically the best treatment option for them.
"This is very energy intensive, generating substantial electricity and water costs. Interruption to the power supply would put the treatment itself at risk. We are concerned that the needs of kidney patients are not being fully understood or considered in any advance planning.""
So - what can we do to prepare for them?
According to Electricity North West there are several things you can do if you are aware a power cut is coming. It says if someone in the household has a serious health problem they should keep emergency telephone numbers and torches close by, ensure phones are charged, consider having a battery back-up for any essential medical equipment. Most stair lifts have a batterty backup fitted but if yours doesn't contact the manufacturer for any support.
Electrical applicances such as desktop computers, laptops and televisions can be protected by fitting surge protection equipment. These can be found in your local supermarket or hardware store.
It adds to keep a battery operated radio to hand to listen for updates and weather reports, ensure any emergency medical equipment is charged regularly, regularly save work on a computer and have a written list of emergency contacts such as family, friends, GP and utility companies.
It says fish and reptiles in a tank should be fine without power for a couple of hours but after that it advises you may need to unplug your filters to stop toxins entering the water. Cover the tank with a blanket to keep the heat in and if oxygen is needed take a small cup of the tank water and pour it back in or make a figure of eight in the water.
It also recommends switching off all electrical appliances that are not designed to run unattended such as cookers, grills, hair straighteners and electric fires. However it says leave at least one light turned on so you know when power is restored.
Help stay warm by dressing in layers and wearing a hat. Try to stay active to help stimulate circulation.
It also advises limiting time of using electronic devices as they could run out of power and may be needed in an emergency. If it has a low-power mode it could be worth switching to that.
Solar panels will generally cease operation without an electricity supply. If it doesn’t, switch off your system and check with your operator or refer to your manufacturers guidelines.
Torches with batteries are also useful.
What about the food in our fridge/freezer?
According to the Food Standards Agency food in your refrigerator will be safe for four hours. It advises keeping the door closed as much as possible. You should throw away perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers after four hours without power.
Meanwhile a full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed). Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below, however, its quality may suffer.
What's being done to try to prevent outages?
The National Grid is hoping to even out power usage over longer periods through its Demand Flexibility Service. Customers taking part in the scheme will be given at least 24 hours’ notice of a test day, where they will be asked to reduce their peak-time electricity use during a one-hour period identified by the National Grid. This is most likely between 4pm and 7pm when customers will be encouraged to avoid using power.
During these hours, the National Grid has revealed that it will pay customers £3 for every kilowatt-hour during the test periods. Different suppliers can then decide was to pay customers taking part in the scheme and how it will be paid.
