National Grid asks power plants to fire up before coldest night of year

Suppliers told to generate extra electricity but network says supplies are not at risk

National Grid has asked power plants in Great Britain to generate extra electricity on Tuesday night before the coldest night of the year.

The Grid’s electricity system operator (ESO) has issued an “electricity margin notice”, telling the owners of power plants to bring on extra power supplies between 4.30pm and 8.30pm on Tuesday. National Grid stressed this did not mean supplies were “at risk”.