Power supply warning issued as Brits crank up fans and air conditioning amid heatwave
Britain’s electricity grid operator warned the industry of a possible power supply shortage on Wednesday evening as extreme heat put significant pressure on the national system.
The National Energy System Operator (Neso), the body responsible for ensuring electricity supply meets demand, confirmed it had issued an “electricity margin notice”.
It marks a rare summer intervention as the country braces for potentially record-breaking temperatures.
These notifications are designed to send a signal to the electricity market that additional capacity may be required and to encourage suppliers to provide more power when necessary.
Such alerts are much more typical during the winter months, when increased heating demand often puts a strain on the grid.
A spokesman for Neso said: “Our forecasts show margins on the electricity system for tomorrow evening are tight.
“This is due to the impact of extremely high temperatures and low winds affecting Great Britain and the continent.”
Neso said it was a “routine tool” and emphasized that it “does not mean the electricity supply is at risk.”
The notice is valid between 19:00 and 22:00 on Wednesday.
Extreme heat can put pressure on the electrical system, making processes less efficient, including nuclear power plants, gas stations and water cooling systems.
This also means people are using more electricity for fans and air conditioners to stay cool.
Temperatures could reach 40C in parts of England and Wales on Wednesday and Thursday as a “heat dome” settling over Western Europe brings extreme conditions across the continent.
The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for extreme temperatures from 9am to 9pm on Thursday, stretching from London to Somerset and Swansea, as well as Birmingham.
Transport bosses urged people to avoid traveling on Wednesday and Thursday and warned those who did so to “prepare for a disrupted journey”.
National Rail has warned there will be disruption to Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink services until Friday.
Avanti West Coast said it planned to operate less service than usual between Tuesday and Thursday and there was a “risk of further disruption”.
Chiltern Railways also said it was halting more than half of its services until Friday “to ensure the safe operation of the railway”.
Eurostar canceled four trains scheduled to run between London and Paris on Wednesday and Thursday “due to expected adverse weather conditions”.
