Editing Three-Day Week (section)

{{Short description|1973–74 UK electricity conservation measure}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
The '''Three-Day Week''' was one of several measures introduced in the United Kingdom in 1973–1974 by [[Edward Heath]]'s [[Heath ministry|Conservative government]] to conserve electricity, the generation of which was severely restricted owing to [[industrial action]] by coal miners and railway workers.

From 1 January 1974, commercial users of electricity were limited to three specified consecutive days' consumption each week and prohibited from working longer hours on those days. Services deemed essential (e.g. hospitals, data centres, supermarkets and newspaper printing presses) were exempt.<ref name="na">{{cite web| title=British Economics and Trade Union politics 1973–1974 |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/releases/2005/nyo/politics.htm |publisher=The National Archives (UK Government records)}}</ref> Television companies were required to cease broadcasting at 22:30 to conserve electricity,<ref>{{cite web |title=The UK in the 1970s|date=21 October 2010 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/counterpoint/the-uk-in-the-1970s/2974294 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Transcription of Radio Times TV listing for 7 January 1974|url=http://tvlistings.thetvroomplus.com/listing-333.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/oIH1|archive-date=16 July 2012|access-date=25 January 2012|publisher=The TV Room Plus}}</ref> although this restriction was dropped after a [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|general election]] was called. The Three-Day Week restrictions were lifted on 7 March 1974.

The measure was a major disaster for the Heath government, contributing to the losses in both the February election and the subsequent [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October election]]. Following the losses [[Margaret Thatcher]] challenged Heath to a [[1975 Conservative Party leadership election|leadership contest]] and subsequently won.