Where Our Energy Comes From news, page 3
- July 2025
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.