Committees

Are recent policy announcements to improve electricity grid connection sufficient? Energy Security Minister to appear alongside Ofgem

7 March 2024

In an evidence session examining how to make the electricity grid fit for Net Zero Britain, Energy Security Minister Graham Stuart will be appearing alongside Ofgem’s Director of Energy Systems Management and Security as the Environmental Audit Committee wraps up evidence gathering in its Enabling sustainable electrification of the UK economy inquiry.

The evidence session comes less than a week after the Chancellor, in his Budget, confirmed new measures aimed at cutting grid connection times. Among the measures announced were for Ofgem to review the regulatory framework for connections to ensure transmission infrastructure delivery times are reduced from 14 years to 7 years, and for the Electricity Systems Operator to consider reforms to the grid queue.

EAC will be keen to examine whether the reforms announced previously and at last week’s Budget will have the desired effect to get projects connected to the grid more swiftly. They will also seek the witnesses’ views as to whether the recently updated National Planning Policy Framework will support energy infrastructure rollout in local communities. Clarity will also be sought on how the Government, Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator will interact to decarbonise the economy, and to ascertain whether action is being taken to address skills shortages that could be hindering timely grid connections.

Witnesses

Tuesday 12 March in Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster

At 2.15pm

  • Rt Hon Graham Stuart, Minister of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
  • Emily Bourne, Director for Energy Systems and Networks, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
  • Eleanor Warburton, Director, Energy Systems Management & Security, Ofgem

Further information

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