UK Plans for Power Shortfall in Winter

The UK is planning for the possibility of power cuts to industries and homes in winter.

• The reasonable worst case scenario sees the possibility of 4-day power shortfall. Cold weather over the winter may combine with gas shortages and reduced Norwegian and French supply to result in organized blackouts.
• Capacity shortfall could be a sixth of peak demand even after the use of emergency coal generation.
• The first stage of the plan would direct flows to override commercial agreements and a second stage would halt supplies to gas fired power stations.
• Norway earlier said it was looking at ways to limit power exports in winter to prevent a domestic shortfall.