Winter Energy Spikes in the UK: What Drives Demand and How We Can Stay Resilient

Nights, Sky-High Bills? Inside the UK’s Winter Energy Surge

What if a single cold snap could send our energy demand soaring, and our bills right along with it? That is the reality we are facing with UK winters. By understanding these energy surges, we can navigate them wisely and keep our green goals on track.

Today, I want to explore what drives these spikes and how we, as households, businesses, and an industry, can power through the colder months while keeping sustainability at the forefront.

Why Does Winter Turn Up the Dial on Energy Demand?

As the days get shorter and the frost settles, our energy habits naturally change. Several factors combine to create a perfect storm that puts our grid to the test.

Heating Takes the Lead

When temperatures drop, our first instinct is to turn up the heat. With many UK homes relying on natural gas and a growing number using electric systems like heat pumps, our collective need for warmth creates a huge demand for energy.

The Evening Rush Hour

Think about what happens between 5 pm and 9 pm. We arrive home, switch on the heating, start cooking dinner, and run hot water. This "heat and home" combination creates a massive spike in energy use that the grid must work hard to manage.

When Cold Snaps Drive Up Costs

It is a simple chain reaction: a sudden cold spell increases the demand for gas, which often causes wholesale prices to jump. Since a portion of our electricity is generated from gas, those price hikes can ripple into our power bills, even when supply is stable.

The good news is that we are getting better at managing these challenges. This winter, the UK is expected to have a spare electricity capacity of 6.1 GW. This is our strongest buffer since the 2019/20 season, thanks to smart investments in battery storage, flexible gas plants, and the new Greenlink interconnector to Ireland.

However, on the coldest, darkest, and least windy days, our energy supply will still be stretched thin. This highlights that our journey to a fully renewable grid is a marathon.

How This Affects Our Homes and Wallets

While wholesale energy costs have come down from their recent peaks, many of us are still feeling the pinch of higher bills, especially with the rising cost of living.

The good news is that support is available. The Warm Home Discount has been expanded to help more households. Efficiency programs like the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) are also helping people upgrade their homes with better insulation and more efficient heating.

These initiatives empower us to build resilience and reduce our reliance on expensive energy when demand is at its highest.

Riding the Wave with Smart Flexibility

Instead of just bracing for these energy waves, we can learn to ride them. That is the idea behind demand flexibility.

Last winter, an incredible 1.98 million households and businesses signed up for the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS). By shifting or reducing their electricity use during peak times, they collectively saved 3,917.7 MWh of energy, which is enough to power 12.7 million homes for an hour.

What started as a winter emergency measure is now becoming a year-round tool for a smarter, more balanced grid. With a smart meter, you can get paid for using less energy during peak events.

It is amazing to think that even small, coordinated actions can make a huge difference. For example, when a popular TV show goes to a commercial break, the sudden surge of millions of kettles boiling at once, known as a "TV pickup", can create a 200–400 MW spike in demand. By simply waiting a few minutes, we can help flatten that curve.

What This Means for You

Whether you are running a business or a household, we all have a role to play in creating a more sustainable energy future.

For Businesses and Infrastructure Planners

• Anticipate and Prepare: Now is the time to stress-test your systems and build flexibility into your operations.

• Build a Resilient Team: Partner with recruitment specialists, like us at Hummingbird, who understand the unique demands of the energy sector. We can help you find the talent you need to build and maintain resilient, sustainable systems.

For Households and Consumers

• Be a Smart User: Look for tariffs that reward off-peak energy use. Shift your high-energy tasks, like laundry or EV charging, to those times.

• Upgrade and Insulate: Investing in efficient appliances and better insulation can make a big difference to your base energy demand.

• Join the Movement: If you are eligible, consider enrolling in the Demand Flexibility Service to save money and support the grid.

Let us Keep Our Green Mission Humming

Winter may test our energy systems, but we have the tools to rise to the challenge. Smart planning and innovative technology make a powerful combination. When we add a shared commitment to efficiency, we can keep our homes warm and our lights on. Most importantly, we can ensure our green mission continues humming along beautifully.

If your organisation is looking to build a resilient team ready to tackle the challenges of a net-zero future, let us connect. 

Or if you are simply curious about how you can make your home more energy-efficient this winter, I am here to help you weather the season sustainably.