No, things are very different now regarding energy. See these three articles: Aug 27th UK Gas and Electricity Crisis Looming Oct 9th UK Energy Part 1: The Winter Outlook Oct 9th UK Energy Part 2: 2005 Quarter 2 Update To talk of the winters of '91 and '87 isn't helpful, we are far more vulnerable now than we were then. Much less gas, oil and coal and less spare capacity in energy systems. Last winter was 6th warmest in 77 years yet due to gas shortages there was a 4-fold increase in interruptions. An 'average' winter would have a pretty bad effect this year, vast industrial disruption. A 1 in 10 or even 1 in 20 cold winter would be disastrous.