Feature image by Anthony Watts, 8/21/2017, Ochoco National Forest, Oregon

Octopus Energy: Don’t use electricity during solar eclipse

From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood

h/t Ian Magness

Meanwhile, let’s all switch on our washing machines tomorrow night!

Britain’s biggest energy supplier is urging people to avoiding using electricity during this week’s solar eclipse.

Octopus Energy is asking customers to delay using washing machines, dishwashers and other plug-in devices between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday, when the Moon is expected to block up to 95pc of sunlight.

The eclipse will send solar generation plunging just as electricity demand begins to rise as millions of people return home from work.

The slump could knock out as much as 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of supply, according to the National Energy System Operator (Neso), which runs Britain’s electricity grid. That is enough electricity to power roughly half a million homes.

Gas-fired power stations will have to be turned on to make up some of the shortfall, alongside other sources of electricity.

While there is no suggesting that the eclipse could trigger outages, Octopus said it was encouraging people to use less energy to negate the need for gas power and so lessen carbon emissions.

Full story here.

Here’s a tip, Olly!

Nobody gives a toss about carbon emissions. What we want is a grid that can supply power as and when we need it.

It’s really quite simple.


WUWT addendum: Feature image by Anthony Watts, 8/21/2017, Ochoco National Forest, Oregon

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15 Comments
atticman
August 12, 2026 2:39 am

So what do they do for power at that time in the Winter when it’s already dark?

Scarecrow Repair
Reply to  atticman
August 12, 2026 3:07 am

Cry for mum, I hope.

strativarius
August 12, 2026 2:51 am

I said it the other day on this and I’ll say it again: Every day is now April fools day.

The Sun sets around 20:30 BST this evening and the eclipse occurs at 19:15 BST. I have to wonder who planted this story and what was was expected as a result – aside from the obvious ridicule.

Great Britain faces a shortfall of electricity supplies on Wednesday evening as the near total solar eclipse is expected to wipe out solar power generation.

The government’s electricity grid operator raised an official alarm that there is currently not enough power generation expected as the moon blocks up to 95% of the sun over parts of the country, the most dramatic eclipse visible in Great Britain since 1999. Guardian

It’s just another attempt to wind the public up. It just goes to show how stupid they are and how stupid they think we are. Dunning Kruger? There’s a 97% probability

don k
Reply to  strativarius
August 12, 2026 3:09 am

Good point. The sun is going to be pretty low on the horizon at the time of the eclipse and presumably way West of South facing, fixed mount solar panels. Even allowing for the fact that the Sun is partially blocked for some time before and after totality, solar wouldn’t be generating much power that late in the evening anyway.

strativarius
Reply to  don k
August 12, 2026 3:15 am

It’s alarmist nonsense. Designed to alarm people, nothing more.

Reply to  strativarius
August 12, 2026 4:09 am

Its not the UK PV that is the problem but due to Gas Turbine maintenance shutdowns that Nesco approved. With the greater reliance on the interconnectors then Spain’s PV reducing etc will mean less surplus on the continent for the interconnectors that the UK is relying on to cover the Gas shortfall.

Reply to  don k
August 12, 2026 4:10 am

Like every time, the declaration that solar (or wind) can “provide power for [insert impressive sounding number] of homes” is a LIE.

Without adding a qualifier as to how many minutes per day that MIGHT be true, and a disclaimer that you can’t count on it.

Reply to  strativarius
August 12, 2026 3:46 am

Dramatic eclipse?
What drugs does the author of the Guardian article misuse?

strativarius
Reply to  Krishna Gans
August 12, 2026 3:51 am

Benilyn?

Reply to  strativarius
August 12, 2026 4:29 am

More probably calpol given their mental age.

August 12, 2026 2:56 am

Hahaha…good one….or: how idiots make me laugh.

Actually I was betting on another blackout somewhere due to the eclipse lol.

ntesdorf
August 12, 2026 3:12 am

After years with no visible climate problems, we have totally lost interest in carbon dioxide emissions. All we want is an electrical grid that supplies power when and where we need it.
It is really that simple.

Len Werner
August 12, 2026 3:16 am

Who had the cleverness of naming a utility company with 8 hands in your pocket ‘Octopus Energy’?

strativarius
August 12, 2026 3:50 am

O/T Energy Extremism.

Is there such a thing? Well, the New Statesman seems to think so…

“I think supporting new oil and gas licences in the North Sea is an extremist position”, explained the New Statesman‘s “Executive Editor (Digital)” Oli Dugmore in a provocative social media clip. And here we are indeed provoked. Typically, we should ignore such tantrums. But the claim and its supporting argument are irresistibly illuminating of a section of the British Left, whose worldview is best explained as a developmental disorder.

Dugmore’s account of his position is, you will not be surprised to discover, not grounded in a deep understanding of the subject. It is, in its entirety, something that resembles an Extinction Rebellion media training crib sheet. It begins as follows:

The International Energy Agency has been really clear that new oil and gas extraction and consumption is not compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. 1.5 degrees is the limit we agreed at the Paris climate accords, and the reason for that is because past 1.5 degrees, what happens? It’s the acidification of our oceans, so that’s the collapse of marine ecosystems, the fish that we eat and rely on

  – Daily Sceptic

They have learned from children….

Bruce Cobb
August 12, 2026 4:13 am

Oh come on. You can just pretend like it’s the 1800s again. Light some candles, and you could even dress up in period clothing. Make it fun.