National Energy System Operator will support the UK’s energy security, help to keep bills down in the long term, and accelerate the government’s clean power mission
Britain’s energy system will be planned by a new publicly owned organisation as part of a new more strategic approach, which will help to deliver clean power by 2030.
The new National Energy System Operator (NESO) will help connect new generation projects with the electricity grid, working alongside Great British Energy to deploy renewable energy, so bill payers can reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown power.
It comes as the government today reached an agreement with National Grid to acquire the Electricity System Operator, which will be transferred to public ownership.
Set to start work on 1 October, NESO will be chaired by former E.ON CEO Dr Paul Golby, with Fintan Slye as the Chief Executive Officer.
Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said:
Currently, there is no single body responsible for overseeing the strategic planning and design of the country’s electricity and gas networks.
NESO will fill this gap – breaking down the siloes which currently exist between the planning of electricity and gas systems, with independent oversight for the design of all Great Britain’s energy networks.
The move will enable investors to build out new energy infrastructure with confidence in how their project will fit into the country’s wider clean energy plan.
The new independent body will support the government’s rapid action to accelerate to net zero.
The government’s Mission Control – headed up by Chris Stark – has already given NESO one of its first tasks – commissioning it to provide advice on how the UK will hit its goal to deliver clean power by 2030.
It comes on top of launching Great British Energy, lifting England’s onshore wind ban, approving four major solar farms and launching the Clean Energy Mission Control Centre.
John Pettigrew, Chief Executive of National Grid, said:
Paul Golby, Chair of the National Energy System Operator said:
The National Energy System Operator has been established through powers under the Energy Act 2023. This sets out the responsibilities of the new public body to maintain the UK’s energy supplies, protect energy consumers and plan for an efficient clean energy system that is fit for the future.
As part of this, NESO will take a cross-sector approach to planning the country’s energy system in the best interests of the British public - looking across electricity, gas and hydrogen, as well as renewable generation, storage and other emerging technologies like carbon capture usage and storage. The independent organisation will map out the country’s future energy networks – helping both the government and Ofgem make informed decisions when considering new infrastructure, speeding up grid connections and progressing the UK’s net zero goals.
Fintan Slye, Chief Executive of the National Energy System Operator, said:
Jonathan Brearley, Chief Executive of Ofgem, said:
Notes to Editors
Further details on the government’s decision to create NESO are contained at the following link – Decision Notice and NESO Licences.
There have been 3 consultations on the creation of NESO:
The enterprise value of £630m that the government has agreed with National Grid to acquire the Electricity System Operator will be subject to customary closing adjustments. The majority of taxpayer costs will be recouped via existing charges on energy bills, which previously would have gone to National Grid.
As part of the creation of NESO, the ownership of Elexon will also transfer to a group of industry bodies. Elexon is a not-for-profit company that balances financial settlements for the electricity network, by resolving the price difference in how much electricity generators and suppliers say they will produce or consume versus the actual volumes. The transfer of ownership of Elexon was consulted on between 24 January and 21 February 2024. The government’s response to the consultation, including details of the industry bodies that will oversee Elexon is available here: Future ownership of Elexon: licence and code changes - government response.
The head of Mission Control, Chris Stark, commissioned the Electricity System Operator to provide advice on the work needed to reach the UK’s clean power by 2030 target, via a letter on 23 August. This advice will be provided by the new National Energy System Operator later this year.