But if that doesn’t work, the FTSE 100 company, which runs Britain’s natural gas network, has warned that natural gas distribution may be the only option. It comes after talks with power station owners about how to deal with a supply crisis. Now, National Grid will meet with major energy suppliers such as Exxon and RWE on Thursday as it considers sending emergency payments to industrial users. This was also preceded by separate one-on-one talks with large commercial users to determine whether the measure would be welcomed. National Grid warned in documents ahead of Thursday’s meeting: “If a cut in demand is required, it is currently expected to be involuntary through emergency procedures.”

UK braces for gas rationing after National Grid warning (Image: Getty)

National Grid will meet with major energy suppliers such as Exxon and RWE on Thursday (Image: Express) It comes as they fear Russian President Vladimir Putin will cut more gas to Europe and send prices soaring further. While the UK only gets around 4% of its natural gas from Russia, it has been exposed to the volatile market as a result of Putin’s earlier bid pressures. And Britain indirectly imports some Russian gas through the Netherlands. Now, as the energy crisis deepens, the price cap (maximum annual tariff) is expected to jump to £2,800 in October. This could push millions more people into fuel poverty amid an already crippling inflation and cost-of-living squeeze. READ MORE: Putin horror deadline in Bulgaria

The energy price cap is expected to hit £2,800 in October (Image: Express) With many households struggling to pay their bills, the government has been called on to step in and soften the blow. While the National Grid has implemented its own emergency measures, Westminster is eyeing a switch to dirtier fossil fuels in a bid to prevent blackouts this winter. Despite three remaining coal-fired plants set to close in September, Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng has written to power station owners in an appeal to keep their turbines running. This is even as the UK has pledged to stop burning coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, for energy by October 2024 to help the country meet its climate targets. But threats of Russian supply cuts have sent fears soaring, particularly after the state-run gas giant cut supplies to continental Europe last month. DON’T MISS EU humiliated as deadline for UK scientists to leave UK [REPORT] “You walk a mile south” Elon Musk’s job interview question is confusing [REVEAL] IDS slams Sturgeon’s Indyref2 as a “ridiculous” distraction [INSIGHT]

Kwasi Kwarteng is eyeing a coal reversal to keep the lights on (Image: Getty) Gazprom, which blamed a huge cut on delayed repairs to the pipeline’s infrastructure, said it had cut flows through Nord Stream by 1 to 67 million cubic meters (bcm) a day instead of the usual 167 bcm. In France, Italy and Slovakia deliveries have decreased. Germany, which is far more dependent on the UK than Russian gas, relying on Moscow for a third of its supplies, has also activated an emergency gas rationing alert. Berlin is currently in the second phase of a three-stage gas warning system, putting the market on a war footing. The final stage of the alarm system would result in full gas distribution.

Russia cut off pipeline gas to Europe last month (Image: Express) But now there are fears that Russia may cut gas even further because of its demand that countries pay for its gas in rubles before March 31 or face having contracts scrapped. The EU has stressed that doing so would undermine sanctions, and so Putin has already shown he is willing to stick to his request. In April, it temporarily cut off natural gas to both Poland and Bulgaria because of it. The Netherlands also reported that its gas had been cut off due to an inability to pay for gas in Russian currency, as did Denmark. Danish energy company Ørsted said: “We are steadfast in our refusal to pay in rubles and are preparing for this scenario. The situation reinforces the need for the EU to become independent from Russian natural gas by accelerating the creation of renewable energy sources.”