Britain's energy providers are urged to generate more power during solar eclipse after customers told to avoid using appliances

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about tonight's total solar eclipse See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 07:16 EDT, 12 August 2026 | Updated: 07:18 EDT, 12 August 2026 Britain's electricity grid operator has issued another plea to the industry to generate more power during this evening's solar eclipse.The National Energy System Operator (Neso) said it is taking the 'precautionary measure' to ensure a 'greater safety cushion' between demand and energy supply.The Government-owned organisation indicated it was forecasting a potentially tight period for electricity margins between 6pm and 8pm today.This is the fourth so-called electricity margin notice issued by Neso this year, with a previous notice issued last month during another heatwave.Bosses at Neso linked the latest industry notice to the solar eclipse, which is set to be the fullest for decades.Britain and Europe have become more reliant on solar power in recent years as part of a shift towards renewable energy sources.The electricity grid operator called on energy producers to help deliver a contingency of around 676 megawatts.The notice sends a message to the electricity market that the operator would like a greater cushion, or margin, between power demand and supply for a limited period. A worker in the National Grid control room in Sindlesham, Berkshire (file photograph) The National Energy System Operator issued this map showing yesterday's carbon intensity This allows production to increase if necessary to increase capacity in the grid.Neso said it does not signal that blackouts are imminent or that there is not enough generation to meet demand.A Neso spokesman said: 'We have used our routine tool of issuing an Electricity Margin Notice (EMN) for Wednesday evening's peak, which simply means we are asking market participants to make any additional generation capacity they may have available.'The notice has been issued as a precautionary measure to the market due to the solar eclipse and there is no risk to customer electricity supplies.'It comes after the UK's biggest energy firm said households should use less electricity during the solar eclipse this evening as solar power generation will plummet.Octopus Energy urged its 8million customers not to turn on washing machines, ovens, dishwashers and other plug-in devices between 6pm and 8pm.The eclipse will take place when electricity demand rises as millions of people come home from work.Octopus has now warned customers the spectacle will 'briefly knock out a chunk of Britain's solar power' and possibly require more fossil fuel power generation.Neso said the eclipse could cut solar supply by up to 1.3 gigawatts - enough to power at least 500,000 homes. Spectators at Edinburgh's Royal Observatory view the last total solar eclipse in August 1999 The Daily Mail's front page on August 12, 1999 following the last total solar eclipse Another total solar eclipse visible from the UK in 1927 - pictured in Stoneyhurst, LancashireExtra gas power stations may therefore have to be fired up, but Octopus said this need will be reduced if enough households delay using electricity for a short time.The moon will obscure more than 90 per cent of the sun between 6.17pm and 8.06pm, the most it has been blocked above the UK since the 1999 total eclipse.It follows claims that Britain faces a higher risk of blackouts after the National Grid changed rules to help hit the Government's green targets.Neso is set to operate the grid in future with reduced levels of 'inertia', which refers to the kinetic energy stored in traditional power plant generators which kicks-in in the event of a power station failure.The change to the new lower minimum inertia threshold will save consumers £96million a year, the state-owned body said.But electricity firms warned it could put the UK at a greater risk of blackouts, and a whistleblower said the 'truly insane risk-taking' was a 'massive gamble'.