Changes to UK interruptible gas contracts could cause supply outages in 2011

"I am warning all utilities now that if they are depending on thermal power stations for heat in the long term, this might severely change in 2011," Eddie Proffitt, gas group chairman and northern members' manager at the utility consumer network and lobby group MEUC tells Energy Risk.

Under phases set out by National Grid, phase I is when National Grid asks all suppliers to ask the largest users on interruptible contracts to switch to other fuels.

Phase II is when National Grid asks suppliers