We’re making plans for winter blackouts, admits minister

We’re doing all we can to avoid energy rationing, says minister

- Rachael Burford and Nicholas Cecil 

BRITAIN is “planning” for blackouts this winter, a minister admitted today as he defended the Government’s stance of not advising people to attempt to save energy.

Climate and energy minister Graham Stuart insisted that families reducing their gas and electric consumption in the colder months would not have any significant impact on supplies.

He suggested that contingency plans, including blackouts, were being drawn up but were unlikely to be needed given the UK’s diverse energy makeup.

Asked whether in the worst-case scenario, Britain was looking at periods where electricity supplies are turned off for domestic homes or rationed, Mr Stuart told Sky News: “We don’t expect that to occur. That’s not our expectation at all.