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THE National Grid is firing up its emergency coal stations as temperatures drop.
People have been warned that the National Grid is warming its emergency coal plants in case they’re needed today.
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The National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has considered using the stations previously but they have always been stood down.
It said this morning: “This notification is not confirmation that the unit will be used on Tuesday, but that it will be available to the ESO, if required.
“The ESO as a prudent system operator has developed these tools for additional contingency to operate the network as normal.
“This does not mean electricity supplies are at risk.”
It comes as temperatures are set to drop across the UK, putting a strain on energy supplies.
When this happens it means there is more demand on the network and emergency measures are put in place.
Tonight (Tuesday) could be the coldest of the year so far, the Met Office has announced.
It said temperatures could drop to -15C in some sheltered Scottish glens, especially where there is fresh snow cover.
Meanwhile, a yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in place for London, the Thames Valley, East Anglia, parts of the Midlands and South Wales until 10am this morning.
The same warning was already in place in most of Northern and Eastern Scotland and North East England.
The National Grid has confirmed that four of its five winter coal units will be warmed today in preparation.
This is the fourth time this winter so far that the National Grid has issued this notification.
It previously said would be deployed only as a “last resort” to prevent blackouts.
The move comes after fears were raised blackouts could hit parts of the UK over the colder months.
What emergency plan will National Grid follow?
Before a planned blackout, the National Grid will issue its emergency plan to reduce power supply.
Government documents reveal the first stage would involve direct appeals to the public to reduce their power consumption.
The second is putting restrictions on companies’ electricity usage by requesting they reduce their consumption by a certain percentage.
And the final stage would involve rolling blackouts for homes across the UK.
There’s also the demand flexibility service (DFS), which has already run this winter, and has been introduced to help prevent blackouts.
It will run 12 times to ensure people are rewarded, even if there are no blackouts this winter.
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