National Grid extends annual gas shortage drill amid winter supply fears
The National Grid has doubled the length of its annual emergency gas shortage drill from two to four days as the energy industry braces for supplies to potentially run out over the winter.
Gas prices have rocketed in recent months amid the recovery from coronavirus lockdowns and as Russia has sought to use its control of gas supplies to Europe as leverage amid its economic and diplomatic isolation since its invasion of Ukraine.
European benchmark natural gas prices ended Monday at a record high settlement price of €276.75 per MWh – 10 times the price a year ago. That has triggered a scramble by European governments to find alternative gas supplies and to try to fill up storage tanks.
The UK’s business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, has not sought any advice from government officials on the possibility of rationing energy before the end of June, the BBC reported on Tuesday, citing data obtained under freedom of information laws.
Kwarteng, who is likely to be the next chancellor if Liz Truss wins the Conservative leadership race, has also opposed the suggestion from civil servants that the public should be asked to cut their energy use, believing it is unnecessary for the UK and that energy use should be up to individuals.
However, the gas supply industry is bound by law to run drills for gas shortages, including deciding which customers would have to cut their gas use.
Under the UK’s practice exercise, the National Grid, a private company that looks after much of the UK’s energy supply system, will use mock demand data and simulate a series of supply losses. Industry will then receive notifications to test the communication systems, and National Grid will test gas distributors’ responses to a “gas supply shortage which has
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