Households can now face an emergency power cut at short notice under new rules confirmed for the government led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The grid operator, Neso, can now respond with rolling blackouts as a last resort, without needing to invoke government powers.
The changes, introduced by the government, are aimed at making it easier for the national electricity system operator to call for rotating blackouts at short notice if power supplies are running short. Going forward, Neso could call for enough homes and businesses within a designated area to be disconnected to cut each block's electricity use by more than a fifth with only eight hours' notice. It could also bring rolling three-hour blackouts across the country to protect supplies.
Neso's Last-Resort Measure
A spokesperson for Neso said the "last-resort contingency measure" would be used only in "the most extreme and unlikely circumstances" and "after all other available options have been exhausted, helping protect the wider electricity system". Neso said the new measures could "be used more flexibly, be initiated quicker" than the government's emergency code, and it would be designed for "a shorter duration".
These powers are "not suited for short-notice use", according to Ofgem, but they can be initiated "as quickly as possible" under the shake-up.
Increased Risk of Nationwide Blackouts
It comes as Britain will be at increased risk of nationwide blackouts because of an electricity system rule change designed to save money and help hit the government's green targets, leading power generators have warned. Power companies say that reducing the national electricity system's inertia could increase the risk of grid failure as Neso pursues £96m in savings.
Energy consultant Kathryn Porter warned that the move is incredibly risky, saying: "The lower the inertia, the less able the grid is to withstand faults. A lower inertia level could combine with the other risks to the grid with disastrous effects, and we might be the ones that suffer if it all goes wrong."
These changes represent a significant shift in how the electricity system can respond to emergencies, with the potential for more frequent short-notice power cuts. The impact on households and businesses could be substantial, as they may face interruptions with minimal warning, though Neso insists such measures are a last resort.
