Guidance

Electricity Supply Emergency Code

An outline of the process for ensuring fair distribution of electricity rationing during a prolonged electricity shortage.

From:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Published
1 January 2005
Last updated
13 April 2026 — See all updates

Documents

Electricity Supply Emergency Code

PDF, 1.41 MB, 40 pages

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Electricity Supply Emergency Code

HTML

Electricity Supply Emergency Code: Annex 1 - Variable Rota Disconnection Plan (accessible version)

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 16.8 KB

Electricity Supply Emergency Code: Annex 2 - Rota Plans (accessible version)

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 113 KB

Details

Update: 13 April 2026

This updated guidance follows a routine review that was launched in 2023 and is being published now to allow the industry to make the standard operational changes to their processes.

If a prolonged electricity shortage affects a specific region, or the whole country, electricity rationing may be necessary. The Electricity Supply Emergency Code (ESEC) outlines the process for ensuring fair distribution nationally while still protecting those who require special treatment, using a process known as ‘rota disconnections’.

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2005
Last updated 13 April 2026 + show all updates

  1. Updated the Electricity Supply Emergency Code.

  2. From 1 April 2019 there is a legal separation of powers between the National Grid Transmission Owner (TO) and National Grid Systems Operator (SO). This document has been updated to reflect the new role of the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO).

  3. Updated with April 2018 revision of code.

  4. First published.

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