UK Prime Minister Liz Truss yesterday refused to rule out the prospect of widespread blackouts for up to three hours a day this winter if the country is unable to import enough energy.
National Grid has warned that both households and businesses are at risk of being cut off.
It said a worst-case scenario could include "load-shedding", where power is restricted to different areas at different times to prevent uncontrolled outages.
The Telegraph says homeowners will be asked to use their washing machines and other electricity appliances at night to help avert potential disruption during peak hours.
Under other contingency plans, households and businesses could be handed £10 a day to stop using electricity when needed.
Speaking in Prague at a meeting with European leaders, Ms Truss insisted that Britain had a "good supply" and was in a "much better position than many other countries".
No guarantee on blackouts
However, the Prime Minister refused to guarantee that blackouts could be avoided, saying only that Britain would "get through the winter".
She said: "I'm always looking for ways that we can improve the price for consumers."
EU countries have already agreed to slash gas usage by 10% and electricity by 15% to avert potential continental blackouts this winter.
On Thursday, Germany's ambassador to London appeared to suggest Britain should join the push.
Miguel Berger said: "Half of the French nuclear power plants are not functioning, and that means, and I think the United Kingdom is one of the electricity importers over winter, that there might be some electricity shortages.
"So I think measures like, for example, reducing gas consumption, reducing electricity consumption, are very important signals which need to be given to the population."
Energy rationing
Ms Truss has previously said she would not be telling people to ration their energy use this winter.
On Thursday, Downing Street sources ruled out following Brussels' lead, insisting the UK situation was "very different" to that of the EU.
A plan for rolling blackouts in the UK , not used since the 1970s, would need the approval of the Government and the King.
Meanwhile, Neptune Energy yesterday announced an extension of higher gas production from the Duva field in Norway, supplying enough gas to heat a further 550,000 UK homes per day.
In April, Norwegian authorities granted Neptune and the Duva licence partners a permit to temporarily increase gas production by 6,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) until September.
Under the new permit, the higher production rate will be maintained until the end of 2022.
Gas is transported by pipeline to St Fergus gas terminal.
Neptune's managing director in Norway, Odin Estensen, said: "We are pleased that we, together with our partners and in co-operation with Norwegian authorities, can maintain export of additional and much-needed volumes of gas to the UK this winter."