Written question asked by Peter Bone (Conservative) on Friday, 14 April 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 April 2023. It was answered by Andrew Bowie (Conservative) on Monday, 24 April 2023 on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

National Grid: Rural Areas

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to improve the national grid network in rural areas.

Answer: Ofgem regulate investment by network companies in improving the electricity grid through the price control process. The Government welcomes Ofgem’s work to create a price control that will ready the grid for changes to electricity demand and supply needed for a secure, net zero system, including in rural areas. In the current electricity distribution network price control, they have set baseline funding at £22.2bn, including £3.1bn proposed for upgrades, which will improve the network in rural areas and support the expected uptake in electric vehicles, heat pumps and the connection of more local, low carbon generation.

Secondary information