A number of everyday household items should be unplugged in the event of energy blackouts this winter, Brits have been warned.
If there is a shortage of gas, people may face hours on end without electricity, The National Grid ESO (electricity system operator) said. However, this could lead to surges when electricity comes back on, which may lead plugged in appliances to be damaged, Mirror Online reports.
Should blackouts happen they would be on weekday evenings in January and February when it is particularly cold, according to National Grid boss John Pettigrew. As a result it may be important to unplug the essentials before heading to bed in case appliances are damaged while people are sleeping.
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Among the essential items which should be unplugged in the event of blackouts include televisions, irons and home computers. After the power comes back on it is advisable to wait before plugging these appliances back in, The Sun reported.
At the Financial Times' Energy Transition Summit, Mr Pettigrew admitted fuel for Britain's power stations, which generates most of the nation's power through gas, could be scarce by January in the worst case scenarios. This would result in blackouts "probably between 4pm and 7pm in the evenings on those weekdays when it’s really, really cold in January and February".
Brits should be ready in case the power goes off by having torches handy and batteries charged to get through the dark hours. Some may opt for candles although beware as they may be a safety risk.
It is yet to be announced whether blackouts will definitely take place this winter in the UK. However, the potential blackouts depend on a number of factors including on whether the UK fail to secure enough gas from other countries in time for the new year, especially if the country experiences a colder winter than expected.
This is combined with lower than usual wind speeds for wind turbines and restricted electricity imports via subsea cables from other European countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Any plans for scheduled power cuts will need to be approved by the Government and King Charles before it could come into fruition.
A Government spokesperson said: "The UK has a secure and diverse energy system. To strengthen this position further, we have put plans in place to secure supply and National Grid, working alongside energy suppliers and Ofgem, will launch a voluntary service to reward users who reduce demand at peak times."
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