Where Our Energy Comes From news from 2025
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- December 2025
SSEN activates Weather Warning level of preparedness in northern Scotland
SSEN has moved to its first level of heightened preparedness across northern Scotland ahead of forecast snow, ice and wind gusts of up to 65mph, with extra teams deployed.
SSEN Distribution announces partnership with Asthma + Lung UK
SSEN Distribution has announced a partnership with Asthma + Lung UK to raise awareness of free Priority Services support for people with lung conditions during power cuts.
Carbon Brief reports net-zero scenario is cheapest option per NESO modelling
NESO modelling finds a net-zero pathway would be the cheapest option for Great Britain, saving £36bn a year by 2050 once climate damages are counted.
SSEN moves to Yellow Alert preparedness status ahead of Storm Bram
SSEN has moved to Yellow Alert preparedness status in the north of Scotland ahead of Storm Bram, with storm-force winds forecast from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.
Ofgem confirms £28 billion grid investment
Ofgem has confirmed a £28 billion network investment package, with £17.8 billion for gas reinforcement and £10.3 billion for electricity transmission across 80 projects over five years.
Fleet to Aldershot 132kV network upgrade completed ahead of schedule
SSEN Distribution has completed an £8.7m upgrade of the 132kV overhead line between Fleet and Aldershot in east Hampshire, finished ahead of schedule and benefiting more than 60,000 customers.
- November 2025
Chancellor delivers second Budget with mixed picture for built environment
The Chancellor's 26 November Budget confirms the Energy Company Obligation will end in April 2026, adds £1.5 billion to the Warm Homes Plan and shifts 75% of legacy Renewables Obligation costs off electricity bills.
SSEN launches Day-Ahead Markets for flexibility providers
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has launched Day-Ahead Markets on its ElectronConnect platform, letting flexibility providers commit to exporting power or cutting use at a day's notice.
SSEN rolling transformer replacement programme extends across central southern England and north of Scotland
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has completed a £2m transformer replacement at Chertsey in Surrey and says similar projects are under way or planned across central southern England and the north of Scotland.
SGN reports 26% of CO call-outs are false alarms from alarm or battery failure
SGN has published data showing 26% of carbon monoxide call-outs it attended were false alarms linked to battery or alarm failure, alongside 2024 incident figures for its networks.
SSEN completes £8 million Southampton network upgrade
SSEN has completed an £8 million upgrade to its network in the North Baddesley area of Southampton, adding 47.8 MVA of capacity and putting nearly 7 km of cable underground for more than 7,500 customers.
Interconnector Ltd reduced GB import capacity
Interconnector Ltd has cut its GB import capacity from 73mcm/d to 61mcm/d from 4 November 2025, with a further reduction to 36mcm/d planned from 1 October 2026.
Gas system security of supply consultation published
The government has opened a consultation on Britain's long-term gas supply, setting out proposed policy actions to keep the system secure as the country moves away from fossil fuels.
- October 2025
UK Power Networks DSO secures first 100% low carbon flexibility portfolio
UK Power Networks' distribution system operator has awarded 20MW of flexibility capacity across 217 local zones to nine providers, with every asset low carbon for the first time.
SSEN mobilises welfare operation for Storm Amy customers
SSEN has served more than 20,000 meals during Storm Amy and set out how customers can claim back the cost of food and accommodation after losing power.
SSEN continues Storm Amy reconnection with over 71,000 restored and 17,000 still off supply
SSEN restored power to all 90,000 homes cut off by Storm Amy, a Category 2 severe weather event, after faults at 750 locations and more than 30,000 free meals served.
SSEN issues Yellow Alert for north of Scotland ahead of Storm Amy
SSEN moved to Yellow Alert across the north of Scotland on 1 October 2025 and stood up hundreds of extra staff ahead of Storm Amy, warning that network disruption is expected.
- August 2025
Data shows 95 per cent of CO alarms untested in 2024
Wales & West Utilities says 95 per cent of carbon monoxide alarms went untested in 2024, based on data from more than 50,000 connected alarms, and is urging Somerset households to test theirs.
SSEN restores power to 50,000 homes following Storm Floris
SSEN restored power to 50,000 homes in northern Scotland by 7:15am on Tuesday 5 August after Storm Floris, with 22,000 properties still off supply.
Storm Floris causes significant damage to SSEN network in northern Scotland
Storm Floris brought an 83mph gust at Wick and left 22,000 properties without power across the Highlands, Moray coast and Aberdeenshire, SSEN said, after restoring 50,000 homes.
NSTA issues updated North Sea production projections
The North Sea Transition Authority's August 2025 projections show UK North Sea gas production falling 59 per cent by 2030 without new drilling, against 52 per cent with it.
SSEN operates at heightened Yellow Alert status for Storm Floris
SSEN moved to Weather Warning status on 1 August and held Yellow Alert over the weekend as Storm Floris brought storm-force winds and a risk of power cuts to the north of Scotland.
- July 2025
Government publishes Clean Flexibility Roadmap
The government, Ofgem and NESO have published the Clean Flexibility Roadmap, setting out plans for a more flexible electricity system alongside new consultations on consumer engagement and asset visibility.
UK Government decides to retain single national GB-wide wholesale market and not implement zonal pricing
The UK Government has decided to keep a single national wholesale electricity market across Great Britain and will not introduce zonal pricing, setting out a package of reform instead.
SSEN announces £2.5m network upgrade between Banchory and Aboyne
SSEN Distribution is spending £2.5m to replace 13km of overhead lines and more than 200 wooden poles between Banchory and Aboyne, with the six-month project due to finish in September.
Clean Flexibility Roadmap published
Government, Ofgem and NESO have published a Clean Flexibility Roadmap update setting out progress since July 2025 and new commitments on consumer-led flexibility, storage and market reform.
DESNZ launches consultation on electricity network infrastructure reforms
The Welsh Government has published its response to a consultation on permitted development rights, confirming strong support for loosening rules on air source heat pumps and setting out phased next steps.
SSEN announces £155m investment programme for Southampton electricity network
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks will spend £155m on Southampton's electricity network from July 2025 to summer 2031, upgrading substations, cables and building a new Bulk Supply Point.
- June 2025
Northern Gas Networks and Doctor Hilary Jones issue summer carbon monoxide warning
Northern Gas Networks has partnered with Doctor Hilary Jones to warn of summer carbon monoxide risks after incidents in the North of England rose 16 per cent last summer, and is giving away 1,000 free alarms.
Catapult analysis shows EV herding creates new overnight demand peak
Energy Systems Catapult analysis of 854 Living Lab homes finds that at around 50% EV uptake the overnight charging peak is twice the size of the early evening peak, driven by time of use tariff herding.
Centrica signs gas import deal with Equinor
Centrica has agreed a gas import deal with Norway's Equinor, as its Rough storage site returns to profit and the company rules out extending its production consent beyond April 2027.
SSEN launches £20 million Chickerell substation upgrade
SSEN has begun a £20 million upgrade of Chickerell substation near Weymouth, a project running to mid-2028 that it says will benefit more than 60,000 homes and businesses in south-west Dorset.
SSEN launches Self-Serve connection quote tool
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has launched a Self-Serve online tool that gives some initial electricity connection estimates in as little as two minutes, after use passed one thousand people.
- May 2025
UK gas networks submit 2026 to 2031 plans for green gas capacity
Britain's five gas networks have filed plans for 2026 to 2031 to connect more than 30TWh of new biomethane production capacity, as a new taskforce claims feedstock could support far more.
SSEN begins £5.4m substation reinforcement project in Ealing
SSEN has started a £5.4m reinforcement of Southfield Road substation in Ealing, installing two new transformers to raise capacity for about 20,000 customers by Summer 2026.
- April 2025
Government response to smart and secure electricity system consultation published
The government has published its response to the 2024 consultation on smart and secure electricity systems, confirming standards for energy smart appliances, a load control licence and tariff data rules.
Ofgem approved NESO connections reform proposals
Ofgem has approved NESO's connections reform proposals, moving the grid queue to a "first ready, first connected" approach that prioritises projects meeting the UK's strategic needs.
SSEN announces contract partners for £450m north of Scotland network investment
SSEN Distribution has named five contract partners to deliver a £450m programme of investment in the north of Scotland's electricity distribution network, covering nine sub-regions and at least 300 skilled jobs.
NIE Networks launches Big Network Rebuild investment programme
NIE Networks has begun a six-year, c.£250m programme to rebuild and future-proof Northern Ireland's electricity distribution network, covering about 14,000km of lines and equipment.
- March 2025
SSEN announces £200m Oxfordshire network transformation
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks will spend more than £200m with OCU Group upgrading the Oxfordshire distribution network from later this spring, work running mainly to the turn of the decade.
SSEN announces trial of Community Smart Access option for new housing estates
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has said it is ready to trial a Community Smart Access option, using Dynamic Load Averaging, to speed up electricity connections for new net zero housing estates.
SSEN Distribution announces £560k investment in north west Skye network
SSEN Distribution is to spend £560k replacing more than 100 wooden poles and installing new overhead lines between Uig and Dunvegan on Skye, work it says will improve reliability for nearly 1,000 homes and businesses.
T-4 Capacity Market auction concluded
The T-4 Capacity Market auction for the 2028/2029 delivery year concluded on 11 March 2025 and secured 43.1GW of de-rated capacity, according to the government's statutory security of supply report.
Planning and Infrastructure Bill was introduced
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, introduced in March 2025, gives the Secretary of State and Ofgem new powers over industry codes, licences and strategic plans for grid connections.
- February 2025
Industry leaders visit Wyke Farms to hear how biomethane could decarbonise homes and businesses
Wales & West Utilities brought industry bodies to a Somerset cheese farm on 28 February 2025 to hear how biomethane from food and farm waste already heats homes and businesses through the gas grid.
SSEN Priority Services Register reaches one million customers
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has signed up its one millionth Priority Services Register customer, saying more of its 3.9 million customers now have tailored support during power outages.
UK gas prices reach two-year high
UK gas prices reached a two-year high in early February 2025 before falling back, with the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit warning that gas remains the main driver of household energy bills.
NIC report on electricity distribution networks published
The National Infrastructure Commission has said the UK will need £37 to 50 billion of investment in electricity distribution by 2050 to deliver flexibility, according to a February 2025 report.
- January 2025
SSEN sets out Storm Éowyn compensation for customers off supply
SSEN has confirmed automatic compensation of £85 for Storm Éowyn outages lasting more than 48 hours, plus £40 for every additional six hours, and its own food and accommodation payments.
SSEN reconnects almost 70,000 customers after Storm Éowyn with restoration continuing
SSEN restored power to 92,000 customers in northern Scotland after Storm Éowyn, with the final homes reconnected on the evening of 29 January 2025.
Emergency Response Plan activated for Storm Éowyn
NIE Networks activated its Emergency Response Plan from 23 January 2025 for Storm Éowyn, suspending normal work and directing resources to incident centres until power was restored.
SSEN moves to Weather Warning status in the north of Scotland ahead of Storm Éowyn
SSEN raised its preparedness for the north of Scotland on 21 January 2025 ahead of Storm Éowyn, then escalated to Red Alert as the Met Office forecast the winter's strongest winds.
Affected area split into West and East zones for restoration
Cadent has split the N10 water-in-gas area into West and East zones to pump water out in smaller sections and restore gas supply property by property, starting in the West.
Water enters gas network in N10 London, cutting gas supplies
Water entered Cadent's gas network in the N10 area of London on 12 January 2025, blocking gas flow to local properties and prompting a two-week operation to pump it out and restore supply.
Northern PowerGrid Community Energy Team launched
Northern PowerGrid's Community Energy Team, launched in January 2025, has supported more than 40 projects with guidance, training and knowledge sharing, according to Community Energy England.