Millions in Great Britain could face emergency power cuts at short notice as new rules allow the National Energy System Operator (Neso) to disconnect homes and businesses to stabilize the grid during extreme energy supply shortages. This measure aims to prevent widespread blackouts.
The new rules highlight the increasing risk of short-term power system imbalances in the UK, potentially impacting millions of households and businesses with little warning and underscoring the challenges of energy security.
Millions of households in Great Britain may face emergency power cuts at short notice under new rules designed to help the National Energy System Operator (Neso) avoid widespread blackouts when energy supplies are low. These changes, effective this week, allow Neso to implement rotating three-hour blackouts with only eight hours' notice if power supplies become critically scarce, a measure that can cut electricity use by over a fifth in affected areas.
This marks a significant shift, as it is the first time Neso can use large-scale power cuts to stabilize the grid without needing emergency government powers. The new protocol is intended to be more flexible and quicker to initiate than the government's existing emergency code, which has never been invoked and is designed for prolonged disruptions.
Neso stated that this measure is a 'last-resort contingency measure' to be used only in 'the most extreme and unlikely circumstances' after all other options have been exhausted. Protected sites, including hospitals and national security locations, will be exempt from these planned disconnections. The changes to the grid codes were approved by the industry regulator, Ofgem, late last month.