Is the UK About to Run Out of Gas?

Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, has warned that there is "less than a week of gas demand in store" in the UK. This is due to the current cold snap driving up gas usage to heat our homes. 85% of homes in the UK are still reliant on gas for heating, which makes a potential gas shortage a serious concern. 

So will we run out of gas? 

No, don't worry! What this statement by Centrica is saying is that our on-shore gas storage is running low. However, unlike the majority of European countries, the UK has very limited on-shore storage and relies primarily on the purchase of gas from the likes of Norway and extracting the gas produced in the North Sea. 

“The overall picture across Great Britain’s eight main gas storage sites remains healthy,” a spokesman reported to the Independent. 

Why is gas important in the UK? 

As mentioned, the UK is still heavily reliant on gas for central heating in our homes. Therefore, if there was a gas shortage we would expect the following to happen: 

Consumer’s Energy bills would increase. Currently the average price of gas in the UK is 6.3p per kWh, this would increase as there would be limited gas supply driving up the demand. 

In extreme scenarios, potential blackouts would be implemented. A shortage could lead to power outages as gas-fired power stations struggle to meet demand.

The UK Government would intervene, prioritising gas for essential services, potentially limiting availability for industrial use.

What can I do to protect myself from a potential gas shortage? 

Ultimately this is a nationwide issue and the government and energy companies are in charge of ensuring the country has enough gas, but there are a couple of options available to everyone. 

Be careful with the amount of gas we use. Ensure heating happens on a timed basis for when you need it the most. It is a good idea to check the heating is turned off when you are leaving the house for a longer period of time.

Investigate alternative heating options such as a heat pump. Heat pumps run on electricity which not only make it a potentially greener option but also a more secure option as electricity can be stored in batteries, should an outage occur.