Earlier this week, the National Grid issued a blackout warning for parts of the UK, as demand for energy surged. The alert was later withdrawn but demonstrates the very real possibility of rolling blackouts this winter.

Electricity experts at Enclosure Pro set out to find the local authorities with the highest electricity consumption per domestic meter and they discovered that the Cotswolds ranked highly on the list. It ranked fifth in the ratings, with a mean domestic energy consumption of 5761.3 kWh.

Na h-Eileanan Siar in Scotland ranked highest, with a mean domestic consumption of 6831.8 kWh (kilowatts/hour) over the course of a year. Argyll and Bute, the City of London and Highland also ranked highly, with mean domestic consumptions of 6475 kWh, 6412 kWh and 5921.7 kWh respectively.

READ MORE: Cotswold trail named as one of the UK's most scenic winter walks

The data in the study was collected from statistics released by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Cotswolds came fifth in a recent study on who has most to lose in winter blackouts
The Cotswolds came fifth in a recent study on who has most to lose in winter blackouts

The 10 local authorities with the highest mean domestic electricity consumption per year are as follows:

  • Na h-Eileanan Siar: 6,831.8 kWh
  • Argyll and Bute: 6,475.0 kWh
  • City of London: 6,412.0 kWh
  • Highland: 5,921.7 kWh
  • Cotswold: 5,761.3 kWh
  • South Hams: 5,394.9 kWh
  • Elmbridge: 5,390.8 kWh
  • King's Lynn and West Norfolk: 5,379.8 kWh
  • Uttlesford: 5,346.4 kWh
  • South Oxfordshire: 5,303.4 kWh

Top tips for preparing for blackouts

To protect electronic equipment against power surges, unplug it, rather than simply turning it off at the wall. Some electronics, such as computers, are particularly sensitive to power surges, so should definitely be unplugged.

Make sure to have at least one torch in your home, along with some spare batteries, external battery packs can be used to charge phones and other essential appliances.

Thick blankets and thermal clothes are crucial for keeping warm and make sure to keep your fridge or freezer door closed as much as possible in case of a power cut, as this will keep food cold for longer.

Make sure to discard refrigerated perishable foods if a blackout lasts for more than 4 hours. This includes poultry, meat, fish and eggs, along with any pre-cooked leftovers.

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