The UK could face "very high prices" due to gas supply shortages this winter - but the lights will stay on, the National Grid has said.

Sky News reports that the power network's electricity system operator (ESO) expects supply to be tight at times - most likely in the first half of December.

When this happens, Britain is set to pay higher prices to ensure it gets the electricity needed from abroad, the ESO said in a report.

The UK imports electricity via cables connected to other countries, especially France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

"There are risks and uncertainties this winter as a direct result of possible shortfalls in Europe's gas supply," the ESO said.

"While Britain is not reliant on Russian gas to the extent that the rest of Europe is, it is clear that the cessation of flows of gas into Europe could have knock-on impacts - including very high prices."

The ESO said it has worked with the Government to delay the closure of five coal power stations in case they are needed to produce energy this winter.

Exploring options

The company is also "exploring options" to incentivise energy users to reduce their use during peak times.

"We expect there to be sufficient available capacity to meet demand," it added..

However, Jess Ralston, senior analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, commented: "We may well get through the winter without major incident, but the gas bill at the end will likely be extortionate."

Experts have warned that depending on the free flow of power from abroad this winter is a high-risk gamble - potentially leaving the UK in danger of blackouts if Russia cuts off the supply of gas.

Energy generators across the Continent are already being stretched by low nuclear power output in France, as well as reduced gas flows from Russia.

Gas prices jumped yesterday after Russia further cut gas supplies to Germany and other central European countries.

European gas prices rose almost 2% - trading close to the record high set after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Political weapon

Critics accuse the Russian government of using gas as a political weapon.

High wholesale energy prices because of gas-supply shortages have pushed household energy bills in Europe and the UK to record levels.

BFY, an energy consultancy, predicted on Wednesday that UK households could be paying £500 for their energy for the month of January alone.

Bob Seely, the Conservative MP who sits on the influential foreign affairs select committee, told the Telegraph: "There is likely to be an energy emergency in Europe, primarily caused by Germany's disastrous decisions - first, to shut down its nuclear power stations to appease its obsessively anti-nuclear green lobby, and, second, to become utterly dependent on Russian gas."

National Grid expects plenty of electricity will be available to run the system this winter, with a forecast buffer capacity of 4GW or 6.7%.

But this assumes that, when the system in Britain is stretched, prices in Britain will be higher than those in Europe - meaning supplies from Europe are sent to Britain.

Analysts caution that competing pressures on the Continent may derail that assumption, however.

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