There is no need for Brits to panic or cut their energy use despite the looming winter, Downing Street insisted today.
No10 sought to reassure households after a week of alarming headlines about gas supplies and prices when cold weather sets in.
A leaked worst-case scenario had drawn up plans for four days of blackouts this winter if supplies ran short.
But sources have insisted it was a test of resilience, not what they expect to happen, despite soaring wholesale prices.
A No10 spokeswoman said: “Households and businesses can be confident they’ll get the electricity and gas they need over the winter”.
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Asked by journalists if people should “panic” she replied “no”. Asked if people should cut back on electricity use now she said “no”.
“We are confident they have the gas and electricity they need over winter,” she added.
But No10 backed National Grid ESO, which is drawing up plans to pay Brits for turning appliances off at peak times.
The spokeswoman said: “We support the National Grid in developing all options which could benefit consumers and help to reduce bills by spreading out peak demand.”
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No10 insisted the UK has “one of the most reliable and diverse energy systems in the world” due to lack of reliance on Russian gas.
Britain can also access North Sea reserves and imports from “reliable partners” like Norway.
The spokeswoman said people should not panic or feel they should cut down on energy use.
“These decisions, in terms of energy consumption, remain decisions for individuals,” she said.
“But what I’m saying is that households, businesses and industry can be confident that they will have the electricity and gas that they need.”