Britain Investigates Claim It Cut Netherlands Power Supply During June Heatwave

GB News reported that Britain was accused of cutting off the Netherlands during recent heatwaves after the UK power grid was pushed to its limits. Columnist Juliet Samuel said decisions were taken after the energy supply fell below safe levels for a sustained period on June 23. An internal Neso memo showed there was not enough energy generation to meet demand that day, according to Samuel.

The frequency of the grid fell below safe levels for a sustained period, and the incident was not managed properly, she stated. Conservative Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho told Parliament that Britain’s power grid was not being run securely during the June 23 event. She said Neso bosses were risking blackouts to protect the operator’s reputation.

Whistleblowers approached Coutinho with fears that the grid is becoming increasingly unmanageable and that their concerns are not being taken seriously internally, GB News reported. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Neso stated that no customer demand was disconnected, frequency and voltage remained within statutory limits, and no lines or cables were overloaded.

A department spokesman said the UK has one of the most reliable electricity systems in the world and has never had a complete shutdown in its 75-year history.

Samuel claimed that someone was actually cut off during the June 23 incident and that it was in the Netherlands. She said safety protocols in such situations call for lowering voltage rather than cutting off a neighbor entirely. Neso commissioned an independent external investigation led by Eversheds Sutherland into the whistleblower allegations.

The terms of reference for the investigation will be published on Neso's website.