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ENA welcomes new focus on Net Zero

01 October 2019

 

In response to National Infrastructure Commission's proposal for regulators to promote the achievement of net zero, David Smith, Chief Executive of Energy Networks Association said:

“Today’s announcement for a new regulatory focus on sustainability is a major step forward in the race towards Britain’s Net Zero target. By providing greater certainty, the duty will help deliver access to Britain’s world-leading, innovative energy network infrastructure for more renewable energy projects, more clean transport and new types of low carbon heating. It will help ensure that our country takes the smartest, most innovative and fairest approach to delivering decarbonisation.”

Press contacts for journalists

ENA Press Office

press@energynetworks.org

 

Notes to editor

Key facts about Britain’s energy network companies:

  • Local electricity generation: Over 30GW of largely renewable electricity generation is now connected to Britain’s local electricity grids, generating a quarter of Britain’s electricity
  • Connecting renewables: Renewables’ share of UK electricity generation reached more than 33% in 2018, up 3.8 percentage points from 29.2% in 2017
  • Reliability: An average customer would have a power cut less than every two years which will last for 35 minutes. Gas network customers experience an unplanned interruption to their supply once every 140 years
  • Value for money: Network companies are responsible for operating and maintaining 1 million km of electricity cables and 272,000km of gas pipelines across the UK at a cost of around 35p per day
  • Vulnerable customers: Distribution networks now provide extra support and care to over seven million vulnerable customers on their Priority Services Registers. So far in RIIO-GD1, gas distribution networks have helped 64,100 households with their fuel bills under the Fuel Poor Extension Scheme
  • Customer satisfaction: Regular satisfaction surveys conducted by Ofgem with a range of customers show consistent satisfaction of more than 87% in the services provided by network companies, putting networks above any energy supply company, higher than many high-street retailers and amongst the very best performers in the UK Customer Satisfaction Index
  • Safety: Safety has improved considerably since privatisation. Total Recordable Incident Rate for electricity network staff shows a tenfold improvement since 1990
  • Jobs: Directly employing 36,000 people, the energy networks have a vital role in supporting UK plc.

About Energy Networks Association

Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the electricity wires, gas pipes and energy system in the UK and Ireland.

ENA helps its members meet the challenge of delivering electricity and gas to communities across the UK and Ireland safely, sustainably and reliably.

Its members include every major electricity and gas network operator in the UK and Ireland, independent operators, National Grid ESO which operates the electricity system in Great Britain and National Gas which operates the gas system in Great Britain. Its affiliate membership also includes companies with an interest in energy, including Heathrow Airport and Network Rail.

What are energy network operators?

Energy network operators manage and maintain the wires, pipes and other infrastructure which delivers electricity and gas to your home, business and community. They are private companies which are regulated by Ofgem and employ around 40,000 people in Great Britain.

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