Chance of power cuts this winter

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Stock upon candles and firewood this winter. That’s the advice from the chairmen of the Federal Energy Commission, Werner Luginbühl.

In an interview with yesterday’s NZZ newspaper he says there’s a chance there could be power cuts this winter – but he does say that would be a worst-case scenario. 

Although Switzerland does generate the majority of the electricity it needs domestically, it still needs to import around 10% at peak times.

He warns power from Germany could be limited due to a gas shortage, French nuclear plants have some technical problems and the drought means water levels at Swiss hydroelectric stations are lower than normal – unless it gets wet this autumn.  

There could be other precautions this winter, such as some street lighting being switched off and the use of snow cannons banned. 

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