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Big firms get gas cut off

Nearly 100 major UK firms were told to turn off their gas yesterday to help avert a crisis as demand soared to record levels amid the cold weather.

National Grid confirmed it had asked 95 big companies and industrial manufacturers across the UK to switch from gas to alternative fuel such as coal and oil.

55 firms were affected across the East Midlands, 39 in the North West and one in East Anglia.

But National Grid said the gas supply would be switched back on today for many of those affected as the UK’s critical gas position has eased - although 12 firms in the East Midlands and 15 in the North West will remain without gas, it added.

The company can invoke clauses in contracts that firms have with suppliers to ask them to switch to alternative sources of power when necessary. Firms sign up to contracts with these clauses as they allow access to cheaper gas.

National Grid, which did not reveal the companies affected, said this was the first time it has had to ask firms to do this since 2003 - and not on this scale for 11 years.

It later sought to assure that the market had been “quick to respond”, with supplies now coming in from liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and from storage.

Supplies from Norway have also now been restored after they were unexpectedly lost earlier, according to the group.

The gas balancing alert lasted until this morning and is currently under review.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .