NESO system warning
Electricity Margin Notice, 11 August 2026
Issued 22:30 · 11 August 2026 · cancelled 12:57 on 12 August 2026
Status
Cancelled
Stated shortfall
1,760 MW
Notices published
4
What this means
An Electricity Margin Notice is NESO asking the market for more generation. It is a routine signal that the forecast spare capacity for a given period is thinner than the operator wants, not a warning that the lights are about to go out — margin notices are issued, met by the market, and cancelled.
For how margin notices work and what actually triggers them, see electricity margin notices, explained.
The notices, as published
11 August 2026 22:30
From : Power System Manager – NESO Electricity Control Centre
ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE
An ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE has been issued by the National Energy System Operator to encourage market actions to increase System Margins.
For the period:
from 17:00 hrs to 22:00 hrs on Wednesday 12/08/2026
There is a reduced system margin. System margin shortfall 1760 MW
The current contingency requirement is 700 MW.
1300 MW of generation is excluded from the available system margin due to system constraints.
Maximum Generation Service may be instructed.
Trading Points, Control Points and Externally interconnected System Operators are requested to notify National Energy System Operator of any additional MW capacity.
Suppliers please advise National Energy System Operator of any additional Demand Control available.
The situation will be reviewed again by National Energy System Operator at 09:00 hours and an update issued.
This Notification of Issue of a GB Transmission System Warning - ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE Issued at 22:30 hrs on 11/08/2026
Issued by Helen Kernthaler NESO Electricity Control Centre
**************
Information Note:-
As the System Operator, National Energy System Operator are responsible for balancing the electricity system in the final hours before real-time. We have a number of routine tools we can use to help us do this, this toolkit includes ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICES. An ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE is used to send a signal to the electricity market. It highlights that, in the short-term, we would like a greater safety cushion (margin) between power demand and available supply. It does not signal that blackouts are imminent or that there is not enough generation to meet current demand.11 August 2026 22:34
From : Power System Manager – NESO Electricity Control Centre
ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE
An ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE has been issued by the National Energy System Operator to encourage market actions to increase System Margins.
For the period:
from 17:00 hrs to 22:00 hrs on Wednesday 12/08/2026
There is a reduced system margin. System margin shortfall 1760 MW
The current contingency requirement is 700 MW.
1300 MW of generation is excluded from the available system margin due to system constraints.
Maximum Generation Service may be instructed.
Trading Points, Control Points and Externally interconnected System Operators are requested to notify National Energy System Operator of any additional MW capacity.
Suppliers please advise National Energy System Operator of any additional Demand Control available.
The situation will be reviewed again by National Energy System Operator at 09:00 hours and an update issued.
This Notification of Issue of a GB Transmission System Warning - ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE Issued at 22:30 hrs on 11/08/2026
Issued by Hannah Kernthaler NESO Electricity Control Centre
**************
Information Note:-
As the System Operator, National Energy System Operator are responsible for balancing the electricity system in the final hours before real-time. We have a number of routine tools we can use to help us do this, this toolkit includes ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICES. An ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE is used to send a signal to the electricity market. It highlights that, in the short-term, we would like a greater safety cushion (margin) between power demand and available supply. It does not signal that blackouts are imminent or that there is not enough generation to meet current demand.12 August 2026 07:21
From : Power System Manager – NESO Electricity Control Centre
ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE
An ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE has been issued by the National Energy System Operator to encourage market actions to increase System Margins.
For the period:
from 18:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs on Wednesday 12/08/2026
There is a reduced system margin. System margin shortfall 1200 MW
The current contingency requirement is 676 MW.
1000 MW of generation is excluded from the available system margin due to system constraints.
Maximum Generation Service may be instructed.
Trading Points, Control Points and Externally interconnected System Operators are requested to notify National Energy System Operator of any additional MW capacity.
Suppliers please advise National Energy System Operator of any additional Demand Control available.
The situation will be reviewed again by National Energy System Operator at 13:00 hours and an update issued.
This Notification of Issue of a GB Transmission System Warning - ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE Issued at 07:15 hrs on 12/08/2026
Issued by Hannah Kernthaler NESO Electricity Control Centre
**************
Information Note:-
As the System Operator, National Energy System Operator are responsible for balancing the electricity system in the final hours before real-time. We have a number of routine tools we can use to help us do this, this toolkit includes ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICES. An ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE is used to send a signal to the electricity market. It highlights that, in the short-term, we would like a greater safety cushion (margin) between power demand and available supply. It does not signal that blackouts are imminent or that there is not enough generation to meet current demand.12 August 2026 12:57cancellation
From : Power System Manager – NESO Electricity Control Centre NOTIFICATION CANCELLATION of GB TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WARNING The GB Transmission System Warning ELECTRICITY MARGIN NOTICE issued for the period from 18:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs on Wednesday 12/08/2026 has been cancelled The following GB Transmission System Warnings remain in force Notification Issued at 12:50 hrs on 12/08/2026 Issued by Simon Williams NESO Electricity Control Centre
Notice text is reproduced verbatim from NESO via the Elexon BMRS SYSWARN dataset. GridHz adds the grouping, timings and context above.