Britons confronted by staggering costs this winter are turning down the heating and putting on the jumpers, and that matters for energy markets. Keeping the thermostat a few degrees cooler than usual could reduce residential gas consumption by as much as 23%, according to a BloombergNEF forecast. That would be enough to stave off forced rationing and carry households comfortably through the coldest of the last 30 winters, giving suppliers a bit of a cushion while seeking replacements for dwindling Russian flows. Regulator Ofgem warned the country faces a “significant risk” of gas shortages in coming months, and Britain’s grid operator said there could be three-hour power cuts on cold, calm days. Those flares attracted attention, with customers doing some belt-tightening even before winter’s arrival. About three-quarters of households are expected to make behavioral changes such as reducing the amount of time the heating is on and not using […]