Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the national grid to provide electricity to homes in the event that (a) 25 percent, (b) 50 percent and (c) 75 percent of the population have to stay at home during the covid-19 outbreak.

The National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) uses a number of tools to balance electricity supply and demand on a minute by minute basis.

The ESO closely monitors electricity demand, looking at a range of different scenarios across domestic, commercial and industry demand. This modelling is refined on a daily basis as further usage data becomes available.

National Grid is confident that it will be able to keep electricity flowing, as the reduction in industry and commercial demands outweighs the increase in residential demand

The ESO is also working with energy partners from across Europe to understand how different measures have impacted demanded in their areas and what patterns can be applied to the GB demand forecast