Energy rationing may include penalties such as surcharges and disconnection from electrical supply for those who choose not to reduce their demand voluntarily.
Limited electrical supply from power stations at times of drought or after infrastructure is damaged, can lead authorities to implement rationing.
[1] Reducing demand in this way aims to avoid forced power outages which are more disruptive than rationing.
Another criticism is that energy rationing schemes are unworkable and face many practical problems including consumer lawsuits.
[1] Due to the general disdain for restrictions that interfere with existing personal freedoms, such as ecotaxes and carbon rationing, energy rationing is not favoured by policy makers to mitigate global warming.