National Grid issued blackout warning for Tuesday night as supplies run low

The National Grid issued - and then cancelled - an alert for potential power cuts tonight. It warned that increased energy usage on Tuesday 22 November could cause power cuts at around 7pm.

The high-demand hours could lead to a "tight electricity margin" with UK households using more electrical appliances than usual for evening meals. The alert has since been withdrawn as contingency plans were set in place.

As reported by Glasgow Live, experts have still warned that today's alert showed signs that there may be "much tighter days ahead".

Energy sector expert Phil Hewitt, director at Enappsys, told the Daily Telegraph : "This is the first tight day of the winter but it is not super tight. It is a small appetizer of tightness, there will be much tighter days ahead."

The National Grid still insists that blackouts are unlikely. If they were to occur they would be confined to single areas which would be given prior warning.

The National Grid ESO wrote on Twitter: "The ESO is confident that electricity margins are sufficient for this evening. However, a capacity market notice (CMN) has been triggered by the automated system."

Last month, National Grid boss John Pettigrew spoke at the Financial Times's Energy Transition Summit. He warned that if power cuts do occur, they are most likely to happen in January and February on the "deepest darkest evenings".

The Daily Record has contacted National Grid ESO for comment.

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