MUA: We Will Keep the Lights On

Manx Utilities is confidence that it has sufficient resilience to maintain secure electricity across the island this winter.

There are some concerns in the UK that blackouts may be necessary if gas and electricity supplies cannot be guaranteed, although these concerns are disputed by others.

Perhaps in an attempt to allay any concerns drifting in from the adjacent isle, Manx Utilities has outlined why it is confident the island won’t face shortages this winter.

It said: ‘The Russian response to the war in Ukraine has created huge volatility and uncertainty in the energy market across Europe. National Grid has published its usual winter outlook, and its view remains that there will be adequate margins this winter.

‘Our island has three independent energy supply lines; natural gas via the subsea pipeline, electricity via the subsea high voltage interconnector and bulk liquid fuel reserves held at our power stations. Regular contact is maintained with our energy suppliers, and therefore, we are confident that there is sufficient resilience in our electricity generation system to maintain secure supplies this winter.’

In the UK, PM Liz Truss has pledged there won’t be energy rationing this winter, but even amongst her own side, people are concerned that is a bold promise to make and one she will hoping she won’t have to break, especially with European countries already asking residents to cut down on demand and warning of the potential of blackouts.