Despite the National Grid’s warning that homes and businesses could face three-hour planned blackouts this winter, climate minister Graham Stuart said on Friday that the UK is not asking people to use less energy.
Britain’s approach contrasts with that of the European Union, where countries have agreed to voluntarily reduce gas use by 15% and officials have urged businesses to reduce energy use and public buildings to turn down heating.
“We’re not in the business of telling people how to live their lives,” Stuart said on Times Radio, arguing that any public awareness campaign would not reduce the risk to the UK’s energy supply.
The National Grid’s (NG.L) warning about potential power outages was based on the worst-case scenario, in which Britain is unable to import enough electricity from Europe and struggles to attract enough gas imports.
“If there were such a scenario, it would come at a very sharp point, so the fact that somebody had reduced their energy usage a week before or even a day before you get to a peak wouldn’t really make any difference to the security of supply,” Stuart said.
Britain has taken steps to strengthen its energy security under new Prime Minister Liz Truss, lifting a ban on fracking for shale gas in England last month and launching a new oil and gas exploration licensing round on Friday. Truss stated that improving the country’s energy supply is a “absolute priority.”
The government, which has stepped in with an energy support package to help people with skyrocketing bills, announced on Thursday that it was working with energy suppliers and the energy regulator Ofgem on a voluntary service to reward users who reduce demand during peak times.
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