Governments across Europe are telling people and businesses to reduce energy use. Do they know something we don't?

[cakeorwine]

It feels like Covid again. Warning signs of an issue. But no action taken.

I know there are people who will reduce usage because of the increased costs.

But there is still a lot of waste and things where energy usage can be reduced to ensure that we have enough gas and electricity available during a demanding winter.

The media has advice on reducing use. There are schemes to encourage people to use electricity outside of peak time.

But shouldn't the Government be leading on this?

The Rough storage facility was closed down under the Cameron government to save money (that aged well didn't it? 🙄) but I'm sure I read that there are plans underway to get new storage facities up and running asap.
However, the UK is still exporting energy to Europe, and have in fact increased energy exports:
www.theecoexperts.co.uk/blog/uk-exporting-gas-despite-energy-crisis
So who really knows what's going on. I don't suppose people are going to be too thrilled if they have to endure rolling power cuts through the winter and then find out we have been sending energy supplies to the Eurozone.

So, when you said, many countries are reducing their consumption - do they know something we don't?....you were implying that blackouts were on the horizon because it would frighten them into spending less government money? How civil minded.

How public spirited of you .
I live in Spain, the government here has dealt with the cost of living and energy crisis in a measured , helpful way, unlike in the UK where Ihave family.

Yeah it reminds me of March 2020 when Boris was hugging contagious covid patients and telling everyone that we didn’t need face masks. This government is trying desperately to look successful and are scared that asking people to reduce energy use will spoil their image.

And so empty office buildings continue to be lit up at night. 😐

Morons, the lot of em.Too busy trying to stay in their jobs to actually do their jobs.

Did you read the report from OFGEM about the risk of blackouts?

The number of people being cut off from electricity will depend on how many gas-power stations are forced to shut down because of a shortage of gas, it added

If we can reduce the rate we use gas, then the rate of gas consumption in the power stations will reduce.

A bit like driving your car slower to use less petrol.

I foresee the Government piling the blame on National Grid when blackouts happen.

Reminder.

National Grid have NO responsibility to keep the lights on. That's a supplier/government responsibility, please remember this.

Norway seems to be having an issue - an issue with hydropower, so are using its own gas to generate electricity

www.express.co.uk/news/science/1669600/norway-first-panic-uk-energy-crisis-biggest-exporter-facing-pressure-cut-off-gas-protests

Which affects its exports to other countries, including the UK.

The blackouts will be planned not just random all the lights go off. Like when supermarkets had to ration toilet rolls.
The rationing is because they think Putin will turn off the gas thereby fucking over a lot of Europe. Using less means the impact is less extreme. If we all use less there’s enough for everyone to have some.

Generate power through elite tap dancing 😂

Which has nothing to do with our consumption today. Which has everything to do with consumption if/when we need to use our stored energy. Which isn't now.

You are knowingly conflating a handful of issues to build your own narrative. Reducing energy now would reduce the national bill but it would not allow us to squirrel it away for later. So take blackouts out of the equation. Our consumption now is not a contributory factor to blackouts later.

The government wasted a chance to warn people and potentially change consumer behaviour.

In January when winds are low, it's cold and people naturally want to increase their heating. Who will they blame when they can't?

So why is Rees Mogg suggesting that the UK reduce consumption and wanted to do a campaign across the UK?

So why is Rees Mogg suggesting that the UK reduce consumption and wanted to do a campaign across the UK?

You already demonstrated the answer to this question earlier in the thread. Controlling the national debt with fear tactics.

Which is dumb, because there isn’t a shortage of money. There is a shortage of gas. The gov’t literally cannot run out of pounds, but we absolutely can run out of gas.

Going to be interesting when they have to fess up to such things happening, despite Truss’ stubborn response to rationing in the hustings.

You are knowingly conflating a handful of issues to build your own narrative. Reducing energy now would reduce the national bill but it would not allow us to squirrel it away for later

It isn't about squirreling it away for later.

It's about reducing the rate that we use our current supplies. There is a difference.

Do you think that power stations that use gas just get a flow of gas that they burn straight away or do they store gas at the stations which they can tap into as and when they need it? (I don't actually know that answer - do they get gas like we do at home or do they have a metaphorical gas bottle they can keep topped up'

How often do we tap into our own gas storage? If we tap into it regularly, wouldn't it be a good idea to reduce the amount of time we have to tap into it?

That doesn't sound like Rees Mogg. He hates telling people what to do

@FourTeaFallOut Which has nothing to do with our consumption today. Which has everything to do with consumption if/when we need to use our stored energy. Which isn't now.

Can the country rely on its meagre stored energy reserves if we have a relatively calm but cold few months over Winter ? Can Centrica get Rough up and running quickly ? It was closed as it wasn't economically viable to repair/maintain and had allegedly come to the end of its design life.

Letting our storage facilities be demolished and decommissioned is the Achilles's heel in our energy security. It was madness. But here we are, you can't save what you can't store.

@Juicesausagecake 🤣💃🕺

I think so. It looks like there could be stuff about nudging our habits to move our consumption to different times of the day so that we can make full use of our green energy generation.

If we have another 'Beast from the East' mixed with low winds and unpredictable imports, we are in danger.

Reducing consumption and helping consumers understand the situation we are in would be hugely beneficial.

Some posters are showing how little they understand about the energy market here. We can always find money, finding gas to power the power stations is less easy.

Husband getting evangelical on energy saving at the mo. Nearly fell down the stairs in the gloom last night. Reality is rolling power cuts coming and Ms Truss will have to issue guidance then. Its all going a bit winter of discontent on the Tories

We've always reduced and monitored our electricity consumption from a 'how can we help National Grid' perspective rather than saving money.

This is why we need a campaign to educate people, and a site similar to the French EcoWatt.

But the government wants us to blame National Grid when they are forewarned their lights will be out, not the suppliers and government that could have done something.

Lights don't use much energy at all. And you don't want go to A&E at the moment.

west I have little stick on automatic sensor Eufy lights on my stairs. Had them for about 6 months and still on the original AA batteries. Much nicer than having to put the big light on.