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Gas demand surges as cold grips
National Grid yesterday issued a gas balancing alert (GBA) to warn big users of the fuel they may have to cut consumption as cold weather grips the country. The GBA means that demand has risen to such a level that, given Britain’s supply and storage position, there is a risk that another supply shock could force a demand-side response, such as shutting down a gas fired power plant. Gas prices surged as unusually cold weather drove up demand to about 30 per cent above seasonal norms.