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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Gas supply fears as cold snap continues | Gas supply fears as cold snap continues |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| National Grid has warned it may not have enough gas to meet demand on Thursday as the cold snap continues to grip the UK. | |
| It issued its first "gas deficit warning" for eight years in the wake of "significant supply losses". | |
| Shortages could affect industrial users as the firm seeks to balance supply and demand by buying in more gas if needed. | |
| Despite the shortfall of about 30 million cubic metres, household gas supplies should not be affected. | |
| A National Grid spokeswoman said the warning was a notice to the gas market that it "would like more gas to be made available". | |
| "Protecting customer supplies is always our first priority and we would like to reassure people that their domestic gas will not be affected." | |
| Why is demand for gas outstripping supply? | Why is demand for gas outstripping supply? |
| The biggest factor is the weather. The "beast from the east" is bringing sub-zero temperatures to the UK and with heavy snow, boosting demand for gas from both households and businesses. | The biggest factor is the weather. The "beast from the east" is bringing sub-zero temperatures to the UK and with heavy snow, boosting demand for gas from both households and businesses. |
| The weather has also affected gas supplies, creating problems for pipelines from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. | The weather has also affected gas supplies, creating problems for pipelines from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. |
| Energy analyst David Hunter of Schneider Electric said the industry no longer has access to the Rough gas storage facility in the North Sea that was closed by Centrica last year due to safety issues. | Energy analyst David Hunter of Schneider Electric said the industry no longer has access to the Rough gas storage facility in the North Sea that was closed by Centrica last year due to safety issues. |
| These issues, along with declining supplies from North Sea fields, means the UK is now more reliant on gas imports. | These issues, along with declining supplies from North Sea fields, means the UK is now more reliant on gas imports. |
| Demand is also higher due to the number of gas-fired power stations in the UK as coal-fired power stations are decommissioned. | Demand is also higher due to the number of gas-fired power stations in the UK as coal-fired power stations are decommissioned. |
| Can people still use their gas central heating and cookers? | Can people still use their gas central heating and cookers? |
| Yes. As energy analyst Peter Atherton says: "The last to get cut off is the domestic consumer." | Yes. As energy analyst Peter Atherton says: "The last to get cut off is the domestic consumer." |
| If suppliers are not able to meet demand, certain users will be asked to stop using gas, he explains. | If suppliers are not able to meet demand, certain users will be asked to stop using gas, he explains. |
| First gas-fired power stations will be asked to scale down gas use, followed by large industrial and business users. | First gas-fired power stations will be asked to scale down gas use, followed by large industrial and business users. |
| A Department for Business spokesperson said "domestic households should not notice any disruption to their supply". | A Department for Business spokesperson said "domestic households should not notice any disruption to their supply". |
| Will my gas bill rise? | Will my gas bill rise? |
| A short-term increase in on-the-day wholesale prices is not likely to feed into household bills, the spokesperson added. | A short-term increase in on-the-day wholesale prices is not likely to feed into household bills, the spokesperson added. |
| However, the cold snap has increased the number of requests for call-outs for engineers, British Gas said, which is having difficulty coping with the volume of customer queries. | However, the cold snap has increased the number of requests for call-outs for engineers, British Gas said, which is having difficulty coping with the volume of customer queries. |
| Two of the company's call centres in Scotland have closed due to staff shortages following the cold weather. | Two of the company's call centres in Scotland have closed due to staff shortages following the cold weather. |
| Are companies being affected? | Are companies being affected? |
| Chemical company Ineos told the BBC it is likely to cut gas usage at its Runcorn plant by a fifth in response to the National Grid's request. | Chemical company Ineos told the BBC it is likely to cut gas usage at its Runcorn plant by a fifth in response to the National Grid's request. |
| However, the company said it did not expect the move to make a material difference as it gets most of the heat it needs from its own energy-from-waste plant. | However, the company said it did not expect the move to make a material difference as it gets most of the heat it needs from its own energy-from-waste plant. |
| There was a large spike in trading prices for gas bought on the day on Wednesday, but prices for gas bought a month ahead declined slightly. | There was a large spike in trading prices for gas bought on the day on Wednesday, but prices for gas bought a month ahead declined slightly. |
| Big energy suppliers mostly buy at least a month ahead so they can work out pricing for consumers and cut risks to their business. | |
| However, they also buy a day ahead, as do large energy users, and some smaller energy suppliers. | |
| Jeremy Nicholson, the director of lobbying organisation the Energy Intensive Users Group, said: "Industrial users typically buy gas linked to the day ahead price in the wholesale market, so the surge in gas prices is hitting them hard. | |
| "We are paying a heavy price to ensure gas continues to flow to the UK in these exceptional conditions." |