UK gas storage levels 'concerningly low' amid cold weather snap, with 'less than a week of demand left in store'

10 January 2025, 12:40 | Updated: 10 January 2025, 12:59

Gas storage levels are 'concerningly low' amid the cold weather
Gas storage levels are 'concerningly low' amid the cold weather. Picture: Alamy/Getty

By Kit Heren

Gas storage levels in the UK have reached a "concerningly low" ebb amid plunging temperatures, the owner of British Gas has warned.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Centrica said the UK now has less than a week's worth of demand for gas in store.

On Thursday, stocks at UK gas storage sites were 26% lower than the same period last year, leaving them around half full.

Gas inventory levels have come under pressure from the cold weather conditions and the end of Russian gas pipeline supplies through Ukraine at the end of last month.

The government said it was confident the UK has enough natural gas supplies to make it through the winter.

Read more: What is the Cold Weather Payment and are you eligible?

Read more: Don't go outside, NHS warns as Brits brace for three days of snow and temperatures set to plummet to -10C

The Rough storage facility
The Rough storage facility. Picture: Centrica

Chris O'Shea, group chief executive of Centrica, said: "The UK's gas storage levels are concerningly low.

"We are an outlier from the rest of Europe when it comes to the role of storage in our energy system and we are now seeing the implications of that.

"As we work towards Clean Power 2030, long-duration energy storage will be needed more than ever in order to help balance a system that is increasingly reliant on renewables.

"Energy storage is what keeps the lights on and homes warm when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow, so investing in our storage capacity makes perfect economic sense."

UK braces for ‘disruptive snow’, ice and cold temperatures

A No 10 spokesman said: "We are confident we will have a sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand this winter, due to our diverse and resilient energy system.

"We speak regularly with the national energy system operator to monitor our energy security, and ensure they have all tools at their disposal if needed to secure our supply.

"Our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 will replace our dependency on unstable fossil fuel markets with clean, homegrown power controlled in Britain, which is the best way to protect bill payers and boost our energy independence."

Reports the UK has been on the verge of an energy blackout are "not true", the spokesman added.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Clive Standish, pictured in 2007

Sheep-farming former banker gave wife £80m to avoid paying inheritance tax before they divorced

2013 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship - Day Six

Darts world championship semi-finalist handed 11-year ban for match fixing

Kaliyah Coa

Body pulled from Thames identified as 11-year-old Kaliyah Coa who 'went to birthday party and never returned home'

Rebekah Vardy has landed a role in a Netflix series about her husband

Rebekah and Jamie Vardy land Netflix deal following Wagatha Christie battle

Authorities believe the parasite to be cryptosporidium.

28 people taken ill after contracting suspected parasite infection following visit to Welsh petting farm

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim (centre) during a training session at the Trafford Training Centre, Manchester

Manchester United in double injury boost ahead of Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao

NHS is rolling out an injectable form of the  injectable form of the immunotherapy nivolumab, which can be given in three to five minutes and works for 15 different cancers, such as lung, bowel, kidney, bladder, oesophageal, skin and head and neck cancer

NHS becomes first health service in Europe to offer new cancer jab

Martin Dunford

Family describe 'endless' grief after kitchen fitter crushed to death by concrete blocks on housing site

People sunbathing on a green field by the trees

Spring heatwave to break UK records for April and May

The fire broke out at a school in west London

Fire at west London school, as pupils evacuated and dozens of firefighters rush to tackle blaze

Justice Dept Finds FBI Abuse Of Patriot Act Provision

Three Brits charged with making hoax ‘swat’ calls to US and Canadian police after FBI investigation

Thousands of food lovers have been drawn to the iconic Brompton Road store after several items from the hall went viral on TikTok and Instagram

Harrods bans people from eating in its Food Hall after TikTokkers flood the store to film content

Katy Perry

Cry about it later: Katy Perry reveals she was left 'battered and bruised' after space trip

Co-op has been hit by a cyber attack

Co-op hit by cyber attack just days after 'devastating' attack on Marks & Spencer linked to 'teenage hacking group'

Themistockli mugshot and CCTV footage

Watch: Moment brazen thief steals thousands of pounds of luxury perfume

Kate Middleton and Prince William are currently enjoying a brief trip to the Scottish Isles

Kate Middleton's sweet sentiment for her children while on royal duties in the Scottish Isles