Plans are reportedly being considered by National Gas, the owner of Britain’s primary transmission network, to offer payments to households in exchange for reducing their heating usage, should gas shortages become a threat.
ELN understands that households could be invited to volunteer to reduce their gas consumption and, in return, receive payments.
Although National Gas already implements such a scheme for major industrial consumers, extending it to households could be controversial given the vital role of gas in home heating and cooking.
Glenn Bryn-Jacobsen, Head of Energy Resilience for National Gas, said: “We could end up in a situation where households can effectively say, ‘I’ll turn down my heating by two degrees today and make that saving’.”
Energy Live News has approached National Gas for comment.
