Britons Urged to ‘Turn Off the Thermostat’ and ‘Eat Late’ to Avoid Winter Blackouts

An expert has suggested that Brits should be asked to change how and when they use energy in order to get through the crisis and avoid blackouts this winter.

Households have already been warned that the price cap may rise by £360 more than previously predicted in January.

According to experts at Cornwall Insight, one of the country’s leading energy consultancies, bills could rise from today’s record £1,971 to £3,245 in October, and then to £3,364 at the start of next year.

Sir John Armitt, the UK’s infrastructure tsar, stated that people should be encouraged to reduce their energy consumption, such as by turning down thermostats and avoiding using appliances such as cookers and washing machines between the peak hours of 6pm and 8pm.

He told The Telegraph: ‘People will have to shift their cooking patterns. Do we need to heat our homes at 21C or is it more efficient to have a steady lower temperature?

‘Absolutely the government could ask people to turn down their thermostats. I’d be amazed if the Government didn’t do this at some point this winter.’

Sir John said Britons should be ‘treated like adults’ and invited to help, warning that if supply from Russia deteriorates, six million households could face blackouts this winter.

Other European countries have already begun to ask residents to take part. Germans have been instructed to take shorter showers in order to reduce the amount of hot water gas requires to heat up.

Households and businesses in Japan have been asked to turn off lights and air conditioners unless absolutely necessary, while Australia’s energy minister has asked residents to avoid using electricity between 6pm and 8pm whenever possible.

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