National Grid withdraws gas deficit warning issued for extreme weather conditions

National Grid says more information on initial warning and withdrawal to be issued in due course

The National Grid has withdrawn its gas deficit warning one day after issuing it over fears that supplies could run out as the temperature across the UK continues to linger below freezing.

In a short statement early on Friday morning, the operator of the UK’s power network said that it had withdrawn the warning with immediate effect and that more information, both on the initial warning and the withdrawal would be issued in due course.

On Thursday, the operator had said there had been gas supply losses due to the “extreme weather conditions”. It said that such a deficit warning was part of its “normal toolkit in extreme weather to make sure we can balance gas supply and demand”.

“Protecting customer supplies is always our first priority and we would like to reassure people that their domestic gas will not be affected,” it said at the time.

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Extreme weather continued to wreak havoc across the UK for a fourth day on Friday. Hundreds of motorists were left stranded overnight. Hampshire Police said that it had been forced to call in the military to help evacuate people from the A31.

A red weather warning – which was the second in 24 hours - expired during the early hours of the morning, but amber weather warnings for snow remain in place for large parts of Scotland, the North East of England, and areas of Northern Ireland.