National Grid asks UK coal power plants to be on standby this winter

Users may also be paid to use less electricity, as country prepares for gas shortfalls across Europe

Coal power plants could be paid to generate more electricity, with consumers and businesses paid to use less, as the UK hunkers down for a winter of gas shortfalls across Europe caused by the standoff with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

In its early outlook forecasting Britain's ability to keep the lights on over winter, the National Grid admitted there could be tight periods" in early December, which would trigger a call for power plants to ramp up generation.