The National Grid has warned that this year it will have its lowest capacity in seven years to supply electricity. This is as a result of generator closures and breakdowns.
Last year, spare electricity capacity was around 5% over the winter and it is thought that this year it could fall to 4%.
Only three years ago the margin was a huge 17% in comparison.
A winter outlook plan, put together by the National Grid, has averaged the demand for electricity to be similar to last year, but the ability to provide that electricity is lower due to several problems which have occurred.
National Grid feels there is no need for concern as they have a contingency plan in place. One of these plans has included agreeing to pay big firms to switch off on cold winter evenings.
Energy minister Matthew Hancock dismissed fears of electricity supplies running out and said: "We are absolutely clear we are taking the measures necessary in order to have secure energy supplies this winter."
Others agreed, and Professor Jim Watson of the UK Energy Research Centre stated: "I think it's very unlikely we will see blackouts in the UK, but what it does mean, this tight situation, is that lots and lots of extra measures are having to be layered on top of an already complicated policy framework."
