Britain’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) requested emergency assistance from France on Monday evening, seeking up to 1,200 megawatts of additional electricity via an undersea interconnector to maintain grid security. The request followed a delayed return to service of a power-system asset that reduced available network capacity.
It marks the largest such request since at least 2024, signalling growing reliance on emergency measures during periods of stress. Energy networks are under pressure as the Iran war pushes European natural gas prices to their highest level since December 2022, leaving the UK power market unusually tight.
Shivam Malhotra, head of power trading at LCP Delta, said emergency assistance is intended as a last-resort tool for true emergencies, yet the system has faced high gas prices and constrained conditions. Electricity imports through undersea cables to France and Belgium remain central to Britain’s energy security, delivering power directly to south England where much demand lies.
NESO confirmed supplies remained secure throughout the hour-long episode, with no customer interruptions. The grid operator has called for emergency assistance at least four times this year, including a June incident when it requested 500 megawatts — less than half Monday’s need.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing