Public ‘will not forgive’ government for winter blackouts

The government has been warned it cannot rely on the EU to prop up energy supplies this winter if does not take steps to reduce demand. Ed Birkett, head of energy and climate change at the right of centre thinktank Onward, said the public would never forgive the government if there are blackouts this winter and it has not undertaken a campaign to encourage customers to save energy. He was speaking on the back of widespread coverage of Ofgem comments that there is a “significant risk” gas shortages could occur this winter.