Brits have been urged to unplug a number of everyday household appliances amid warnings of energy blackouts this winter. The National Grid electricity system operator (ESO) suggested people could face hours on end without electricity if there is a shortage of gas.
However, the occurrence of three-hour blackouts could result in surges when the electricity is turned back on. This may lead to some plugged-in appliances to be left damaged, as the Mirror reports.
Among the essential items you are advised to unplug in the event of blackouts include irons, home computers and televisions. It is then advisable to wait before plugging these appliances back in after the power has been restored, as reported by The Sun.
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If blackouts do hit British shores this winter, they are set to take place on weekday evenings in January and February, when it is particularly cold, according to National Grid boss John Pettigrew. As such, no one will want to wake up the following morning to discover damage has occurred during these downtimes.
It may therefore be imperative to unplug the essentials before heading off to bed. Mr Pettigrew, at the Financial Times’ Energy Transition Summit, 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 lead to blackouts "probably between 4pm and 7pm in the evenings on those weekdays when it’s really, really cold in January and February", he said. However, it is yet to be announced whether these will indeed definitely take place in the UK this winter.
To prepare for potential blackouts, Brits should have torches handy and batteries charged to get through the dark hours. Candles will also prove a popular choice, although these inevitably bring a safety risk.
The likelihood of blackouts hitting this country depends on a number of factors. This includes whether the UK, especially if the country experiences a colder winter than anticipated, fails to secure enough gas from other countries in time for the new year.
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.
Before coming into effect, scheduled power cuts would need to get approved by the Government and King Charles III. "The UK has a secure and diverse energy system,” a Government spokesperson said.
“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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