Committee discusses energy grid with Ofgem
The Industry and Regulators Committee will continue its inquiry into the energy grid and grid connections by hearing from Ofgem, Great Britain’s energy regulator. The Committee will consider the role that Ofgem will play in meeting the Government’s 2030 clean power target, particularly in relation to approving new grid infrastructure. The Committee will discuss whether Ofgem needs to raise the standards of service that those seeking to connect to the grid receive from energy networks, and whether networks should provide more information on where they have capacity for connections customers. The session will also examine how Ofgem’s price controls for energy networks will interact with new strategic plans for the energy system which will be produced by the National Energy System Operator.
The Committee will also discuss how Ofgem will respond to the Government’s desire for regulators to focus on growth, and whether the Government should be giving the regulator a stronger steer on how to balance the need for investment and the security of energy supplies with the affordability of energy bills.
Meeting details
Possible questions include:
- What are the main potential causes of delay in providing energy network infrastructure that Ofgem is concerned about?
- Does the Government need to provide further guidance for Ofgem on how it should focus on growth?
- Will Ofgem strengthen its framework for regulating energy networks’ standards of service to major connections customers?
- Are greater locational signals needed in the energy system to reduce the need for additional grid investment? Should these be provided by zonal pricing or reforms to network charges?