Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive, Energy Networks Association, which represents the UK’s energy network operators, said:
"There is a real sense of urgency to this challenge. The industry has received 164GW of new connection requests in the year to October 2022 alone. That’s around three times the capacity of our grid today. We're pleased Ofgem has listened to the industry's recommendations to accelerate connections by moving away from a ‘first come, first served’ regime towards a ‘first ready, first connected’ model and we look forward to fully supporting their review.
“Last month we launched our Improving and Accelerating Customer Connections plan, which includes practical steps for moving to a 'first ready, first connected’ system."
Notes to editor
- National Grid ESO's Five Point Plan and Energy Networks Association's Strategic Connections Group are focused on speeding up connections.
- Read ENA's Improving and Accelerating Customer Connections plan here: https://www.energynetworks.org/operating-the-networks/connecting-to-the-networks/improving-and-accelerating-customer-connections
- We’re delivering more flexible connection queue management, reforming the way transmission network reinforcements are triggered, allowing truly ‘connection ready’ projects to queue jump and connect faster and improving planning processes between transmission and distribution.
- Requiring Ofgem to consider net zero in their decision making will enable more strategic investment, removing a clear barrier to investment in the low-cost, low-carbon energy system we are all working towards.
About us
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the energy networks. Our members include every major electricity network operator in the UK. The electricity networks are at the heart of the energy transition. They directly employ more than 26,000 people in the UK, including 1,500 apprentices. They are spending and investing £33bn in our electricity grids over the coming years, to ensure safe, reliable and secure energy supplies for the millions of homes and businesses reliant on power every day.
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