Overview
- The National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a precautionary electricity margin notice for the 6:30pm–10:30pm peak on Thursday and asked market participants to make extra capacity available.
- Neso said the notice does not mean blackouts are imminent and that it will continue to monitor conditions and coordinate with generators.
- The operator cited extreme temperatures across Europe as the cause, saying hot conditions are lowering efficiency and availability at some nuclear, gas and water-cooled plants.
- High use of fans and air conditioning during the UK's third heatwave of the year is raising evening demand and adding pressure to already thin margins.
- Neso previously made two June callouts that were cancelled once spare margin was secured, and the notice signals that operators may increasingly need summer measures to protect supply.