Households might have to turn down their thermostats and switch off lights to avoid blockouts under emergency plans.
Government measures to tackle the energy crisis this winter would include appeals to the public to cut down on energy use in the event of an electricity or gas supply shortage.
A document of contingency plans by the National Grid seen by The Telegraph showed ministers would use the option if the energy crisis worsened even further.
The news comes as EU countries were told to cut their usage by 15 per cent from next month over concerns they will not be able to store enough for winter after Russia reduced its supply of gas on the NordStream pipeline.
Countries such as Germany, France and Austria have already appealed for their citizens to cut down on energy use by turning off lights, turning down thermostats and taking shorter showers.
The UK document said that if the government had to introduce energy-savings measures, the messaged could be send via TV, radio, social media and posters.
To avoid rolling blackouts in the UK, the National Grid could also pay some large energy users to use less power to ease the pressure on the grid.
Household bills are expected to soar even further this winter to more than £3,300 as the UK’s energy crisis deepens.
