Heatwave trebles electricity prices

Electricity prices trebled on Tuesday, prompting idle power stations to start operating after the unusually hot weather led to shortages of power in the UK.

Soaring temperatures led to a rise in demand for electricity to power air conditioners and refrigerators, but at the same time several power stations were out of action for repair work.

This caused National Grid, which manages the UK’s energy networks, to issue an “insufficient margin warning”, saying the safety net of spare power generation capacity was under threat. Observers said it was unusual for National Grid to put out a warning in the summer.
Financial Times