Can a government campaign persuade Britain to use less energy?
Government officials deliberating on whether to launch a public campaign to reduce energy usage this winter may want to avert their eyes from the reaction to last week’s heatwave advice. As temperatures soared, government and health agencies advised Britons how to remain safe in the heat. Twitter users’ response? A wave of terse comments. “The nanny state has spoken,” read one. “Most normal adults already know this,” snarked another.
While the country battles extreme heat, the debate in Westminster surrounds how to keep people warm this winter. The twin issues of soaring energy bills, which could top £3,000 by October, and the prospect of supply shortages caused by the invasion of Ukraine underpin the discussion. Industry watchers have called for government intervention, including more financial support after Rishi Sunak’s £15bn package laid out in May and official advice for consumers this winter.
However, the government appears far from certain the latter will happen. Asked about potential messaging to consumers this winter, one senior official at an energy industry conference told executives this month that the issue was being discussed in Westminster. But she argued that “people are fatigued with being told what to do. With Partygate it was clear that we were saying one thing and doing another and that feeling is still there”.
On Thursday, National Grid is expected to release its initial outlook, which will detail its expectations for energy supply and demand this winter.
The reality of Europe’s winter energy outlook lies in the hands of Vladimir Putin, who may decide to strangle economies by cutting off gas supplies. Although Britain is not reliant on Russian gas, any shutoff could push energy prices even higher or
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