Energy rations could be on the card this winter, and UK plant owners are constrained by energy supplies.
Fears are growing that Russia could strategically cut off gas to Europe as the Kremlin has already stopped supplies to several companies and countries across the continent that have refused to pay the ruble for gas.
The ruble demand was itself a retaliatory measure against Western sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to the Telegraph, National Grid could impose “involuntary” energy restrictions on energy companies if other emergency measures, such as payments to turn off machines, fail to reduce demand to sustainable levels.
The FTSE 100 company, which operates the UK’s gas mains, has issued a ration warning in talks with plant owners as it plans to have the coldest month of the year.
This Thursday we will meet with major energy suppliers such as SSE, Exxon, Equinor and RWE to discuss emergency payments to industrial users.
“If demand reduction is necessary, it is expected to be involuntary through the current emergency procedure,” the newspaper warned in the document and released ahead of Thursday’s meeting.
Still, we’d love to hear from users and vendors about which commercial terms will “stimulate engagement.”
The plan is considered “more suitable” for large industrial users, but generators are part of the talks.
The UK’s largest users of gas and electricity include manufacturers such as Tata Steel, British Glass, CF Fertilisers, Ineos and Jaguar Land Rover, although it’s unclear which companies were involved in the talks.
