Europeans should bundle up and prepare for power outages
Europe has spent months stockpiling fuel and promoting energy-saving practices in preparation for winter without Russian gas. Governments are beginning to prepare people for the possibility of controlled power outages as unseasonably mild weather gives way to frigid conditions. The French government has issued instructions to authorities advising them to begin preparing for potential rolling power cuts as early as next month. The National Grid operator in Britain warns about possible blackouts from 4 pm to 7 pm if the gas used to generate energy runs low. Preparations for electricity rationing are only a last resort in the unlikely event that domestic energy production and imported power are insufficient to meet demand. Europe has started reactivating coal-fired power plants to produce electricity while replenishing its natural gas supplies.
As a blast of Arctic air from Greenland is likely to send temperatures plummeting, the area is currently experiencing its first significant cold spell. Unseasonably warm weather in October and November allowed businesses and residences to turn off their furnaces. Governments in Europe have replenished their emergency gas supplies, which has increased natural gas costs. Due to European sanctions on Russia, Swiss residents have been advised to prepare for power shortages that could persist for several hours. The French government has set up a national alarm system to notify any rolling power cuts far in advance.
Sanctions and the postponed restart of Finland's Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor have put pressure on the country's ability to produce electricity, according to power grid operator Fingrid. The downtime would only be for two hours, from 8 am to 1 pm or 6 pm to 8 pm. Other locations won't have power, but emergency sites will. Traffic signals may be "inoperative," and the government advises drivers to "limit their movements as much as possible." When power is paused, cellphone towers will also stop functioning in such areas. If mobile networks lose electricity, it might be impossible to make emergency phone calls.