GB News reports that gas plants were paid high prices on Monday as wind output fell, and it carries a consultant's and a gas trade body's view alongside Neso's reply. Its headline and one line in its own voice say the payments were needed to keep the grid running, though its own body says they covered potential shortfalls and a safety margin, and Neso said supplies were not at risk. A photo caption also turns £1.4m an hour into £1.4m a day, and GB News sets one year of notices against another despite Neso saying the numbers vary.
Headline goes beyond the article
Minor
“to keep electricity grid running”
Why this matters
The headline says the gas station was paid "to keep electricity grid running".
The impression it gives
A reader believes the grid would have stopped running without these payments, so Britain came close to blackouts.
The context
The body says the plants were paid to cover potential shortfalls and keep a safety margin, and Neso said there was no risk to supply. The Guardian reported that the notice came while the UK was forecast to export power to Europe.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“to cover potential shortfalls and ensure there was a safety margin between supply and demand”
Elsewhere in the article“there is no risk to customer electricity supplies”
“had to pay gas power stations to step in and keep the lights on”
Why this matters
In its own voice GB News says Neso "had to pay" gas plants "to keep the lights on".
The impression it gives
A reader believes the lights would have gone out without the gas payments.
The context
Neso said the notice was precautionary and supplies were not at risk, and the Guardian reported that there were no grid constraints and the UK was forecast to export power.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“a "routine and precautionary measure"”
The photo caption says the plant received "£1.4million a day".
The impression it gives
A reader who scans the caption takes £1.4m as a daily total.
The context
The article's own body gives £1.4m as the equivalent hourly rate, paid during a window on Monday evening, so the caption contradicts the body.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“received the equivalent of £1.4million an hour on Monday evening”
Elsewhere in the article“paid between 3.30pm and 5pm on Monday”
Uses figures that mislead
Minor
“Seven EMNs have been issued so far this year, compared to just one in 2025.”
Why this matters
In its own voice GB News sets this year's seven notices against a single earlier year, straight after the consultant's claim that renewables are making notices more frequent.
The impression it gives
A reader believes the one-year comparison proves a steady rise driven by renewables.
The context
Neso, quoted later in the same article, says notice numbers vary from year to year and that there were comparable periods of use in the past, so one base year does not show a trend.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“they could vary from year to year”
Elsewhere in the article“comparable periods of EMN use in the past”