No street lights, factories closed and bills soaring again
Wholesale gas prices surged again after Vladimir Putin’s regime halved supplies to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
Germany has already condemned the action as a ‘duplicitous game’ and others are predicting energy bills could hit £500 for January.
And as European nations try to buy liquefied natural gas from US, Africa and Middle East there are suggestions that in the UK there could be 1970s-style black-outs, street light bans and cut-backs in manufacturing. Many countries are drawing up contingency plans to cut gas and electricity use by 15 per cent to protect families through the winter.
These include turning off street lights, not heating public swimming pools and shutting down production at some major manufacturers, however more drastic measures may be necessary.
The Electricity System Operator has said the situation could be particularly difficult..Analysis by energy industry experts at consultants suggests the new increase in wholesale prices could see the figure hit the equivalent of £3,420 in October and £3,850 in January
Wholesale gas prices rose to all-time highs of 530p per therm for the coming winter on Wednesday morning.
Moscow has blamed maintenance issues, but the Nord Stream move is widely seen as Moscow ‘weaponising’ gas and deliberately limiting European supplies in retaliation for western sanctions.
There are fears that Russia could cut off supplies entirely.
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