A report by the manager of the British electricity network warned Thursday that, in an extreme scenario of lack of gas imports, punctual power cuts could be set up this winter.
Le Monde with AFP
The word black-out, or generalized power failure, was printed on the cover of the British press, Friday, October 7. However, the conservative government of Liz Truss excludes for the moment a campaign to encourage the British to reduce their energy consumption despite a report which warns that the United Kingdom could know generalized breakdowns this winter.
The National Grid report, the manager of the British electricity network, had the effect of a bomb on Thursday, warning that in an extreme scenario of lack of gas imports, punctual power cuts could be put into Place this winter.
Questioned on Sky News to find out if the British should be encouraged, as most European governments confronted with Same risks, Graham Stuart, Secretary of State for the Climate, replied that the government “does not send this message”.
“There are good reasons why people prefer to take a shower than a bath because it can lower their bills (…) but that has no impact on our energy security. [The government will not ask people to disconnect things (…) when that does not make a difference for our energy security. We think we have a varied and solid supply in all the most likely scenarios, everything will be fine, but we We prepare for everything. “
” nanny state “
m. Graham did not want to confirm, without denying press information on Friday saying that an energy savings campaign had been prepared but rejected at the last moment by the Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
She said that she did not want a “nanny state” or dictate to people what to do, in the tradition of the conservative party of laissez-faire and a lesser intervention by ‘State.
“We are in good position compared to our other European neighbors. We do not depend on Russian gas. Almost half of our gas consumption is produced in the United Kingdom,” Stuart on Sky News further argued . However, he admits that because of the war in Ukraine and the limits of supply of Russian gas which it causes, “this winter has more risks than previous winters”.
A discourse that contrasts with that of the French government, which repeats the word sobriety and encourages to limit the temperatures of public swimming pools, apartments, and to the taps of administrative buildings.
m. Stuart also dismissed the idea of rationing, in a United Kingdom still traumatized by the memory of electricity breakdowns and energy restrictions of the 1970s, in the wake of the oil shock.