Dinner after 8pm and delaying washes - what we might have to do to avoid blackouts this winter

Households across the country could be asked to move mealtimes, avoid putting the washing on, or turn the lights off to avoid total blackouts this winter depending on the weather, an energy expert has warned.

Kathryn Porter, an energy consultant with Watt-Logic, has warned that rationing measures could be put in place this winter, asking millions of households to cut back on their energy usage to prevent full blackouts if a high-pressure weather system hits - reducing the amount of wind and making it more difficult to create renewable energy through turbines, whilst the cold weather it brings will increase heating demands.

At the moment, the global energy crisis, deepened by the world's decision to stop buying energy from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, has seen tens of millions of people across the United States of America asked to avoid using washing machines, dishwashers, and ovens between 2pm and 8pm, with suggestions that car charging for electric vehicles should wait until after 9pm.

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Over in Germany, lights on monuments have been turned off, advertising boards switched off at night, and a total ban on heating private swimming pools has been implemented to try and save energy ahead of the coming winter, as the European country struggles with a lack of gas from Russia. The French Prime Minister has warned of potential rolling two-hour power cuts this winter due to the energy crisis.

It seems like the UK will be unable to avoid disruption too if the weather fails us, as the continued production of renewable energy is our only hope of making it through this winter unscathed according to Ms