The BBC has prepared secret scripts that could be read on air if energy shortages cause blackouts or the loss of gas supplies this winter.
The scripts, seen by the Guardian, set out how the corporation would reassure the public in the event that a “major loss of power” causes mobile phone networks, internet access, banking systems or traffic lights to fail across England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland would be unaffected because its electricity grid is shared with the Republic of Ireland.
The public would be advised to use car radios or battery-powered receivers to listen to emergency broadcasts on FM and long-wave frequencies usually reserved for Radio 2 and Radio 4.
One draft BBC script warns that a blackout could last for up to two days, with hospitals and police placed under “extreme pressure”.
Another says: “The government has said it’s hoped power will be restored in the next 36 to 48 hours. Different parts of Britain will start to receive intermittent supplies before then.”
This follows the National Grid warning that energy supplies could be at risk this winter. In a hypothetical worst scenario, the organisation said it could order planned blackouts for up to three hours a day if Russia severs its gas supply to Europe.
The National Grid’s chief executive, John Pettigrew, said on Monday that if everything could go wrong did, then there could be rolling blackouts between 4pm and 7pm on “really, really cold” days in January and February – when there is not enough wind to power turbines.
metajaunnews.com/2022/10/19/bbc-drafts-secret-scripts-in-case-of-energy-blackouts-across-britain/
Hundreds of turbines apart from being a complete eyesore producing enough electric to boil a kettle off the coast Conway this can't be the answer for energy 24hr a day 52 weeks a year for 65 million people, taken yesterday. pic.twitter.com/iqO2pqoECz
— Brian tolley (@Briantolley10) October 19, 2022
Wind farms not being used on a windy day…
The head of Britain’s electricity and gas systems’ operator has told households to prepare for blackouts between 4pm and 7pm on weekdays during “really, really cold” days in January and February if gas imports are reduced.
John Pettigrew, the National Grid chief, said blackouts would have to be imposed during the “deepest darkest evenings” in January and February if electricity generators did not have enough gas to meet demand, especially if there is a period of cold weather.
news.sky.com/story/prepare-for-blackouts-on-cold-weekday-evenings-national-grid-chief-warns-12723349
Real-time numbers UK Grid watch.
h/t Damn…!!!