From running out of gas…
http://www.edp24.co.uk/mobile/business/britain_s_gas_reserves_down_to_six_hours_in_march_after_norfolk_gas_fault_1_2208634

that would have been interesting for some folk.

Have you got alternative means of cooking and heating? Before supplies ceased I suspect that the gas pressure would have fallen to levels that would’ve prompted a selective shut-off of parts of the network and large consumers.

Large and medium size Businesses typically have contracts which include a clause to cut them off if supplys are low. Regular customers would not have been effected for a few days if not weeks if it came to that.

Have you got alternative means of cooking and heating?

Yes; I’d just eat out or order a takeaway.

Plus power stations can switch supply from burning gas to generate electricity to supplying gas into the grid (some power stations import gas direct from offshore sources and can either generate electricity to supply gas, depending on spot prices).

Yes i have.

Few different options.

what if your takeaway is powered by gas?

I take it you can’t read very well. The article says that we were six hrs from running out of gas storage. We don’t rely completely on stored gas there are many other source including our own production, gas import from Norway and the LNG terminals. Also it would be industry that gets its supplies cut first, not domestic users (it’s in their contracts)

Oh and it’s not the first time this has happened either, it’s a lot more common than you might think.

Ofgem trailed it quite well at the time, I think I recall.

Apparently not, looks like profiteering by the main suppliers:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/may/24/energy-suppliers-held-back-gas-uk

Not worked in this area for some time so some of this will be out of date but…

– Salt caverns are not the only storage we have – we have LNG for a start, this is used as the UK’s last storage backstop
– As someone has said – storage and supply are different things, we were not six-hours from having no gas
– Turn down and turn off options are common for large gas consumers, so domestic users are protected
– Gas shippers (the people who provide gas to gas suppliers) are directed during emergency situations to either retain in store or flow gas as appropriate. Whilst this might provide profit for shippers in some circumstances, in others they will be prevented from taking action

I drafted several changes to this regime – surprising that it has come up here!