The National Grid has been forced to pay £82 million to wind farm operators as a record amount of wind-generated electricity threatened to overwhelm the UK’s energy system and cause power blackouts.
In light of this, I’m reaching out with an expert guide on preparing businesses for power blackouts from business energy experts, Bionic.
The National Grid maintains that rolling electricity blackouts this winter are unlikely but power outages could still happen if weather turns exceptionally cold or wind power once again threatens to overwhelm. Businesses are taking the risk of disruption seriously and the sale of backup power generators have soared recently.
Les Roberts, content manager at Bionic, has put together a guide answering the important questions about the energy blackouts and explaining how to protect business operations to avoid unwanted downtime.
Please see the main points below and the full guide here: https://bionic.co.uk/blog/how-
Why could blackouts happen?
“If demand for heat and light increases during the cold, dark winter months, then there might not be enough gas coming in from Europe to meet the needs of homes and businesses and the government might put rolling blackouts in place to ease pressure. Whereas Germany has 89 days of gas storage capacity, France 103 days and the Netherlands 123 days, the UK only has 9 days worth of capacity.
Supply is already under pressure as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the after-effects of the pandemic. The UK usually imports power from France to meet increased demand during the winter but more than half of the French reactors run by EDF Energy are offline because of technical problems and maintenance issues.”
When are blackouts set to happen and will my business be affected?
“If the energy supply can’t meet demand this winter and power cuts go ahead, it will likely be during January and February or when the worst winter weather hits. They are scheduled to last for three hours but the day and time of the power cuts will depend upon where you’re based and the power block you live in.
Power blocks work like a postcode and each block is given a letter from A to U (but letters F, I and O are not used). Each power block will be given one of eight time slots for power cuts and will have three power cuts a week. Contact your energy supplier to find out the power block your business is in.”
(Please see the full guide for the 8 power block power cut time slots)
How can I prepare my business for blackouts?
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Invest in an independently powered generator but make sure it is fit for the environment you want to use it in.
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Make sure if employees are staying onsite, there is sufficient emergency lighting and that the premises is warm enough to work in. The Approved Code of Practice on the Workplace suggests the minimum temperature for working indoors should be at least: 16°C or, if the work is very physical, 13°C.
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You’ll also need to make sure facilities like toilets and kitchen appliances can still work.
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Make sure all alarm systems, including fire alarms, are working. Bear in mind alarms may go off when they detect a loss of power. If you disconnect an alarm that goes off, make a note to reconnect it when the power comes back on.
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Speak to your WIFI provider about a mobile solution that could be used when power goes down
How can I support my employees during a blackout?
“As well as making sure the lighting and heating is sufficient for employee safety, you should check any public liability and employers’ liability insurance policies to make sure you’re covered should an employee be injured when the power is down.
Make sure to keep staff fully informed about when blackouts might take place and how your business is planning to deal with the disruption. It might be worth altering shift patterns to minimise disruption if you can.”
Are any businesses exempt from blackouts?
“Your business might be exempt from planned power cuts if it meets one of the following criteria”:
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National or regional critical needs – Airports, railways, ports, docks, communication networks, and utilities.
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Public health and safety issues – Hospitals, emergency services, armed forces, major food manufacturing and storage.
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The potential for catastrophic damage – Essential financial services and industrial sites where shutdowns could cause major financial issues.
What is the government doing to avoid blackouts?
“To avoid power cuts, the National Grid has been trialling a voluntary blackout scheme known as the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), which involves households being paid for not using appliances like ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, and tumble dryers between certain peak hours. There were plans to roll the scheme out across the country, but National Grid has decided against any wider implementation.”
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