That's good to know.

What about home cooking? I had the particular impression that electric stoves were the norm. I remember someone talking about the UK grid being challenged when everyone put a kettle on during a television commercial (advert?) break.

Hi Nick,

Digging a little further, in 2006, 87 per cent of UK homes with central heating are fuelled by gas (non centrally heated homes represent less than nine percent of all housing stock). With respect to cooking, natural gas and electric are fairly equal, with natural gas holding a slight lead in fuel use (53 versus 46 per cent).

Electric kettles and commercial breaks in a country that loves its tea can certainly wreck havoc, considering your basic Russell Hobbs can draw 3,000-watts.

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/britainfromabove/stories/people/teatimebritain.shtml

Related: http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Media+Centre/PressReleases/15-06-06.htm

Cheers,
Paul