How will we get around? Walk, bike, bus, train or electric car. Will electricity be rationed?
Mon 2:56 pm +00:00, 30 Mar 2026As of March 2026, petrol rationing is not in place, but the UK government has contingency plans ready due to severe fuel price surges and supply risks stemming from Middle East conflicts. While no official date for rationing has been set, ministers have not ruled it out as a last resort to handle potential severe shortages.
- Current Situation: Rising tensions in the Middle East and disruption at the Strait of Hormuz have driven up oil prices and led to localized reports of fuel shortages at some petrol stations.
- (Isle of Man has no diesel at the weekend)
- What Rationing Involves: If implemented, the Government would likely use the Energy Act 1976, potentially enforcing a “Maximum Purchase Scheme” (e.g., a £30 limit) at pumps, a plan designed to ensure fair access.
- Priority Access: Under the National Emergency Plan for Fuel, critical services such as emergency services, health workers, and public transport will get priority access to fuel.
- Historical Context: The last time petrol was rationed in the UK was during the 1950s after World War II, although significant panic-buying shortages occurred in 2000 and 2021.
From 1 January 1974, electricity was severely limited. Businesses had to limit their electricity usage to three consecutive days a week, and within that hours were severely limited. Essential services like hospitals, supermarkets and printing presses were exempt.
TV channels were forced to stop broadcasting promptly at 10:30pm every night, people worked by candlelight and torchlight, wrapped themselves in blankets and duvets to keep warm and boiled water to wash in.
Unsurprisingly this had a huge economic impact. Many small businesses did not survive despite the government’s attempts to ensure economic stability and prevent inflation. Wages went unpaid, people were laid off and life was tough.
The Three-Day Week was one of several measures introduced in the United Kingdom from 1973 to 1974 by Edward Heath‘s Conservative government to conserve electricity, the generation of which was severely restricted owing to industrial action by coal miners and railway workers.
From 1 January 1974, commercial users of electricity were limited to three specified consecutive days’ consumption each week and prohibited from working longer hours on those days. Services deemed essential (e.g. hospitals, data centres, supermarkets and newspaper printing presses) were exempt.[1] Television companies were required to cease broadcasting at 22:30 to conserve electricity,[2][3] although this restriction was dropped after a general election was called. The Three-Day Week restrictions were lifted on 7 March 1974.
When the Lights Went Out in Britain: The Story of the Three Day Working Week | History Hit
The online world will carry on presumably. Companies and small businesses will need survival strategies. Fuel shortage could last a lot longer under war conditions than they did during a long strike.
Once the world’s oil supply is cut off, people will suddenly find that electric cars become a lot more desirable.
The next generation of EV batteries will contain one kilo of silver giving each car double the range of lithium ion, which is currently available.
By 2028 EVs ranges will be starting at 400 and go up to 800 miles.
A kilo of silver is currently about $2,000. With tens of millions of electric cars coming into demand, that will surely go up a lot…. $10,000?
This is not financial advice. In an economic crisis shares could tank and drive down commodity prices. SIlver might also fall, but will never be worth zero. Wars are notorious for accelerating inflation.