‘Warmth rationing’ arrives in UK: ‘Companies could remotely turn down heating in people’s homes under Labour plans’

Heat pump households face winter warmth rationing as the drive to net zero raises increasing fears of blackouts.

By the end of next year, electricity suppliers will be able to remotely turn down heat pump central heating to help Britain’s energy system cope with high demand.

Suppliers are expected to do so on the instructions of the quango responsible for coordinating the grid, which is overseen by Ed Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Britain’s electricity supply typically comes under most strain during winter cold snaps. The risk of blackouts is expected to become more extreme as net zero policies shift energy demand from gas to electricity and supply becomes more dependent on less reliable wind and solar generation.

Under the Energy Secretary’s proposed Smart Secure Electricity Systems scheme, licenced providers such as Octopus Energy and British Gas will be able to restrict heat pumps via the internet.

There are more than 223,000 heat pumps installed in existing buildings across the country, according to the latest official statistics. Mr Miliband has set a target for 450,000 heat pumps to be installed annually by 2030 and since April last year, every one installed must be capable of being connected to the internet.