UK three-hour power supply warning on Wednesday as temperatures hit 40C

UK three-hour power supply warning on Wednesday as temperatures hit 40C The National Energy System Operator has issued a rare electricity supply warning as the UK faces extreme heatwave conditions Britain's electricity grid operator has issued an unusual warning that power supplies will be "squeezed" over a three-hour window on Wednesday, June 24. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) has put suppliers on alert, cautioning that the sweltering heat could place significant strain on the nation's power network. The alert represents a rare summertime call for additional power from Neso as the country prepares for potentially record-shattering temperatures. Neso, which is responsible for ensuring electricity supply meets demand, confirmed it had issued an electricity margin notice. This signals to the electricity market that more capacity needs to be made available, enabling production to be ramped up if required. Such notices are far more commonly issued during winter months, when the demand for heating is at its peak. A spokesman for Neso said: "Our forecasts are showing tight margins on the electricity system for tomorrow evening. This is due to the impact of extremely high temperatures affecting Great Britain and the continent and low wind." Neso described it as a "routine tool" and was keen to stress that it "does not mean electricity supply is at risk". The notice covers the period between 7pm and 10pm on Wednesday, reports the Liverpool Echo. Temperatures could reach 40C on Wednesday and Thursday across parts of England and Wales. The blistering conditions are the result of a "heat-dome" settling over western Europe, which has unleashed extreme weather right across the continent. The extreme heat can place strain on the electricity network by reducing the efficiency of various processes. This includes nuclear power stations, gas facilities and water cooling systems. It also means households are consuming more electricity for fans and air conditioning to stay cool.