Exactly as predicted 30 years ago when destroying the fossil fuel infrastructure was starting up — and unlike the Greens' prediction of submerged cities by 2015, these predictions are coming true

ah, but there is a solution! That so-often-neglected energy source, friction: just rub your hands together, granny, and stop your whining.

GOODER AND HARDER, OLD BLIGHTY: Life in Blackout Britain: Experts warn energy rationing this winter could see people told not to cook until after 8pm, pubs close at 9pm, ‘three-day-a-week’ school, care homes cancel outings for residents and swimming pools left unheated.

The scale of energy rationing that may be required at home, in the NHS, schools, care homes, shops, pubs and on the streets of Britain because of surging energy prices and the threat of blackouts is laid bare today.

Experts have told MailOnline there is ‘no escape’ for the 66million people in the UK who will be encouraged to cut their use of gas and electricity this winter and even turn off the lights when the wind drops.

Kathryn Porter, from consultancy Watt-Logic, fears that the crisis will cost lives in the coming months and told MailOnline: ‘We should keep our fingers crossed for a warm and windy winter’. Ms Porter has said that it’s ‘very possible’ the UK will see plans for energy rationing, despite Liz Truss, the likely next prime minister, absolutely ruling it out, but the energy expert added: ‘It would be voluntary, asking people to make a small sacrifice to avoid blackouts’.

Today it emerged that Britons could be asked to limit energy use this winter to head off blackouts by avoiding using gas and electricity at peak times in a move that will hit every part of life.

At home people may be encouraged not to use washing machines, dishwashers and ovens between 2pm and 8pm while charging cars before 9pm is also not advised when similar measures were imposed in the US this year. Abandoning the family weekday dinner at 6pm or the Sunday roast at 5pm may be required and moved to after 8pm or swapped for a cold dinner or leftovers.

Over in the land of cheese, less than a year ago the Greens and teenagers were celebrating the shutting down of Europe’s largest gas fields.

Unfortunately, those “clean alternatives” haven’t appeared yet, and the government has warned citizens that they’ll probably have to freeze in their cold, dark homes “for another 6-7 years”.

Our own governments, state and federal, promise that that can’t happen here. When it does, they’ll just blame the semi-fascist saboteurs.