National Grid warns households to expect possible blackouts this winter

The man in charge of National Grid has told households to prepare for blackouts this winter.

John Pettigrew says we could expect blackouts between 4pm and 7pm on weekdays during "really really cold" days in January and February if gas imports are reduced.

He's said they would have to be imposed during the "deepest darkest evenings" if electricity generators did not have enough gas to meet demand, especially if there is a period of cold weather.

His comments were made at the Financial Times's Energy Transition Summit on Monday.

Earlier this month the National Grid put the country on notice that the chances of gas shortages this winter have risen and that planned three-hour blackouts could be imposed in some areas, in the "unlikely" event supplies of gas fall short of demand.

This is the first time since the warning that there has been explicit discussion of what time blackouts may take place.

What's impacting gas supply?

Russia's war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russian gas imports is impacting the supply to many of Europe's countries.

Large amounts of electricity is generated from gas, putting strain on national electricity supplies as demand increases in the face of cold weather.

Britain gets 40% of its electricity from gas-fired power stations while gas heats the vast majority of homes.

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