Brits could find themselves being asked to turn their thermostats down and eat later amid the cost of living crisis. An expert has suggested asking people to change how and when they use their energy will avoid blackouts this winter.
It comes as electric and gas bills are expected to rise in the coming months, with the energy price cap predicted to increase by £360 more than previously forecast by the start of 2023, analysts have warned.
Experts at Cornwall Insight, one of the country’s premier energy consultancies, said bills could rise from today’s record £1,971 to £3,245 in October and then again to £3,364 at the start of next year, the Metro reports.
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Sir John Armitt, the UK’s infrastructure tsar, has said people should be asked to make changes to their routines - such as avoiding using electrical appliances like cookers and washing machines between the peak times of 6pm and 8pm - in a bid to save money and power reserves.
He said in an interview with the The Telegraph : "People will have to shift their cooking patterns. Do we need to heat our homes at 21C or is it more efficient to have a steady lower temperature? Absolutely the Government could ask people to turn down their thermostats. I’d be amazed if the Government didn’t do this at some point this winter."
Russia's invasion of Ukraine also continues to put pressure on supplies and push up prices. Sir John warned that some six million households may face blackouts this winter if supply from Russia gets worse.
It comes as other countries have already started asking residents to take action and do their part. In Germany, for example, people have been told to take shorter showers while in Japan, officials have asked its residents switch off lights and air conditioners unless needed.
But the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy told Metro.co.uk: "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 occur.
"Thanks to a massive £90 billion 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."
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