Energy bills are firmly in the news at the moment given the spiralling cost of gas as a result of Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine.
Soaring energy prices have become a focal concern during the cost of living crisis, with inflation skyrocketing to a 40-year high.
But there are concerns that the situation could get even worse if Russian president Vladimir Putin limits Europe’s gas supply this winter as he hits back at Western sanctions designed to cut off funds for his war on Ukraine.
Even as households naturally limit the amount of energy they consume due to high costs, France and Germany have been debating applying gas rationing to get their populations through the cold months.
And while the UK is less reliant on Moscow’s fuel than the likes of Berlin, there have been questions during the Conservative Party leadership race — effectively a competition to find the next prime minister — about whether the final two contenders would support such a policy at home.
Why is energy rationing being discussed?
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In Pictures via Getty Images)
If Putin does decide to reduce gas supplies to the European Union, then six million households could face blackouts, according to a briefing given to The Times in May.
Since then, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has been attempting to shore-up deals to keep coal and nuclear power plants open beyond their initial shutdown dates in a bid to keep the lights on in Britain.
A minister told The Times that if the back-up plan does not work, then electricity could have to be rationed for up to six million homes at the start of next year, mostly at peaks in the morning and evening.
The curbs could last more than a month and could lead to further energy price rises, the newspaper said.
What is energy rationing?
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The UK government could find itself in a position where it has to implement its own gas emergency plan if there is an energy shortage.
According to Whitehall’s “reasonable” worst-case scenario — which was briefed to The Times — ministers could opt to close gas-fired power stations for a time, while heavy industrial users of gas might be ordered to stop using it during certain periods.
The closure of the plants would lead to a shortage of electricity, forcing ministers to ration the nation’s power.
Those in impacted areas could see their electricity turned off on weekdays at peak times in the morning, between 7am and 10am, and in the evenings, between 4pm and 9pm.
There is precedence for such actions. In 1973, industrial action led to the so-called “three-day week”, causing then Tory prime minister Ted Heath to restrict energy use.
Nearly all businesses – with exceptions such as hospitals and supermarkets – had to limit their electricity use to three days a week and factories were banned from operating beyond conventional work hours.
Will the UK ration energy this winter?
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Getty Images)
The competition to replace Boris Johnson has seen the final two candidates, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former chancellor Rishi Sunak, quizzed on whether they would back a rationing policy.
Mr Sunak said he would not rule it out but Ms Truss, who is the firm frontrunner in the race and widely expected to enter Downing Street on Monday, vetoed the idea.
During a hustings in London on Wednesday (August 31), she was asked by LBC broadcaster Nick Ferrari whether she could rule out energy rationing, replying: “I do rule that out. Yes.”
With Ms Truss likely to be the next prime minister, her answer suggests she would go against the “worst-case scenario” planning and find alternative ways of keeping Britain powered up.