A historically low electricity production due to the difficulties of the nuclear fleet, an energy situation made even more complex by the war in Ukraine: the authorities have been preparing the French for several weeks for the occurrence of load cuts, starting in January .
These, directed and located, must be limited to two consecutive hours and concentrated between 8:00 and 1:00 p.m. or, at night, between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. However, infrastructures and the critical public would be exempt, which is not without controversy regarding the definition of these priority sectors.
But the fear of saturation of electrical networks is global. How are our neighbors organizing themselves at the end of the year, in anticipation of the start of 2023 under high energy tension? BFMTV.com takes stock of our neighbors’ plans in this area this Wednesday night.
• Draconian plan in the United Kingdom
In a UK where inflation has skyrocketed and energy bills are skyrocketing, the planned emergency plan promises to be particularly draconian. Jointly submitted by the government and local electricity provider, National Grid, it provides for load disconnection for three consecutive hours, in January and February, between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Subscribers will be notified 24 hours in advance.
The National Network goes so far as to mention a potential blackout overall, working 36-48 hours. Such an option would lead to the extinction of traffic lights, the closure of the mobile network, failures of the banking system. The British audiovisual sector is already mobilizing: the BBC has already recorded emergency messages to be broadcast on the radio if necessary.
• Switzerland is also thinking about load shedding
Switzerland is also thinking of cutting off the juice. And power outages in Switzerland could extend for more than four hours. Users would be notified two days in advance.
But questions remain. In fact, the luxury industry and watchmaking, which are particularly important for the cantons, are not designated as priorities and therefore their protection in the event of a load cut is nebulous, stresses here France 2, which points out that certain companies have already made the acquisition of generators. .
• Italy finalizes its “energy curfew”
In Italy, we speak more of an “energy curfew”. The principle is similar but if we mention the possibility of temporarily interrupting the current in homes, the solutions that are made public are more related to businesses or administrative offices. Therefore, we envision imposing early closures on shops (at 7pm, however), while bars and nightclubs could extend the pleasure until 11pm, but not beyond.
According to France Télévisions, public lighting can also be suspended in the event of saturation.
• German “pedagogy”
Germany has adopted, for the moment, another logic, summed up in one word by the State: “pedagogy”. The government relies on its agencies to train citizens to deal with a potential crisis. The idea is to instill some simple gestures, such as knowing how to prepare a bag to deal with emergency situations, including a flashlight.
Finally, we have already lowered the temperature of the pools, according to this precision of The express.
Source: BFM TV
