After a particularly mild autumn, a real cold snap hit Europe with temperatures dropping to zero in cities like London and Paris.

And with that, the power consumption also increases. Several countries are now preparing their citizens for this winter rationing period, they wrote The New York Times.

Ask the Brits for the micro pick

In the UK, the country’s largest grid company, National Grid, has warned that power could be shut down as consumption peaks on the coldest days of January and February.

The message is that a blackout will occur if the gas delivery stops. As in the rest of Europe, most of the UK’s electricity consumption comes from gas.

The online company is now trying to get ahead of the cut by asking customers to wait with the laundry or heat up dinner in the microwave instead of the oven. In return, lower electricity bills await, he wrote London Evening Standard.

Schools were closed and traffic lights darkened

France must also prepare for “multiple days” of power outages this winter, warned online company RTE.

The French government has instructed local authorities on where the cuts should be made, writes Reuters.

Hospitals, emergency services and prisons must be avoided, while schools must be closed on days with too little electricity. Traffic lights on the streets must be turned off, as well as telephone towers.

Power rationing will not affect more than 4 million users at a time and will be limited to two hours, the government wrote.

Selling candles like never before

France has long been Europe’s largest nuclear power producer, which its neighbors also benefit from. But this fall, half of the country’s nuclear reactors were out of action due to maintenance.

Germany, for its part, has abandoned plans to shut down its last three nuclear reactors and has also reopened coal-fired power plants.

German authorities have concluded that a major power outage is “highly unlikely” this winter. Nevertheless, many Germans have used alternative light sources. Candle sales skyrocketed, he wrote Security.

Cool electric car in Finland

It’s even worse in Switzerland, where residents are told they need to be able to survive for several hours without power.

In Finland, grid company Fingrid has asked electric car owners not to warm up the car to remove ice from windshields in the morning, because electricity is the most expensive then, he wrote. The New York Times.

The cool autumn weather keeps gas prices and gas consumption low in Europe. Now expected to turn around. Next week, consumption will increase, according to Rystad Energy. Several EU countries have also started supplying themselves from replenished gas stocks after Russia turned off the gas faucet earlier this year.