Three UK coal-fired power stations have been ordered to start warming up if needed if the cold snap continues.
National Grid ESO said it has asked power plant operator Drax to prepare two coal-fired units and EDF to warm up its West Burton power plant.
A program offering rebates for households that reduce energy use during peak periods is also set to be triggered.
National Grid ESO said the measures were “precautionary” and did not mean power supplies were at risk.
The company said it expects power supply margins to be “tighter than normal” on Monday night.
However, it added that “people shouldn’t be worried” about the measures.
“These are precautionary measures to maintain the buffer of spare capacity that we need,” it said.
The cold weather means energy demands are increasing as more people heat their homes, but a lack of wind has reduced the amount of renewable energy available.
A similar application for heating coal-fired power plants was made in December last year, although in this case they were not used.
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National Grid ESO also said that between 17:00 and 18:00 GMT it would activate a system that would allow some households to receive rebates if they reduce their electricity consumption, for example by delaying the use of a tumble dryer or doing laundry Machine.
Dubbed the Demand Flexibility Service, the system is available to households with smart meters whose energy suppliers have signed up for it.
According to National Grid ESO, 26 suppliers have joined the scheme, including companies such as British Gas, EoN, Octopus Energy and EDF, and more than a million homes and businesses have now signed up to participate.
The program is scheduled to run until March and has only been used in tests so far.
Last year the head of National Grid told BBC News that blackouts would be the last resort this winter as energy supplies run low.
John Pettigrew said National Grid’s “base case” assumption is that the UK would have enough supplies to meet heating and lighting needs.
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