To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of safeguards to ensure potential material errors in the National Energy System Operator's connection contracts with generators and off-takers are independently reviewed and corrected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of safeguards to ensure potential material errors in the National Energy System Operator's connection contracts with generators and off-takers are independently reviewed and corrected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the National Energy System Operator's status on its accountability to (a) government and (b) Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the National Energy System Operator's status on its accountability to (a) government and (b) Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to enable errors in the National Energy System Operator's connection contracts with generators and off-takers to be (a) identified and (b) corrected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to enable errors in the National Energy System Operator's connection contracts with generators and off-takers to be (a) identified and (b) corrected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the safeguards in place to ensure that material errors in the National Energy System Operator's connection agreements can be (a) independently reviewed and (b) corrected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the safeguards in place to ensure that material errors in the National Energy System Operator's connection agreements can be (a) independently reviewed and (b) corrected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions her Department has had with National Energy System Operator about the risk of blackouts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions her Department has had with National Energy System Operator about the risk of blackouts.

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consolidate transmission project data currently held separately by the National Energy System Operator and Ofgem.

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consolidate transmission project data currently held separately by the National Energy System Operator and Ofgem.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resolution procedures available to parties adversely affected by NESO decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resolution procedures available to parties adversely affected by NESO decisions.

Lords statement on allegations from whistleblowers within the National Energy System Operator regarding summer blackout risk.

Lords statement on allegations from whistleblowers within the National Energy System Operator regarding summer blackout risk.

I declare my interests as chair of Amey, Acteon and Buckthorn Partners. Can the Minister confirm the comments of whistleblowers that on 23 June

“constraints were breached and system security was compromised”—

and, I might add, five safety limits were breached as well? Can he confirm that such events can directly contribute...

I declare my interests as chair of Amey, Acteon and Buckthorn Partners. Can the Minister confirm the comments of whistleblowers that on 23 June

“constraints were breached and system security was compromised”—

and, I might add, five safety limits were breached as well? Can he confirm that such events can directly contribute...

The Government take the allegations that the whistleblowers have made recently concerning the operation of NESO very seriously. An external legal firm has been appointed to investigate, reporting to a panel independent of senior management; indeed, there is the opportunity for anybody independent of senior management to make representations to...

The Government take the allegations that the whistleblowers have made recently concerning the operation of NESO very seriously. An external legal firm has been appointed to investigate, reporting to a panel independent of senior management; indeed, there is the opportunity for anybody independent of senior management to make representations to...

My Lords, these allegations, if accurate, would represent a shocking breach of public trust by an organisation now owned directly by the Government. But it also demonstrates a failure of the current whistleblowing framework that, to be heard and to have some measure of protection, the whistleblower has had to...

My Lords, these allegations, if accurate, would represent a shocking breach of public trust by an organisation now owned directly by the Government. But it also demonstrates a failure of the current whistleblowing framework that, to be heard and to have some measure of protection, the whistleblower has had to...

As far as whistleblowing is concerned, I can speak only to this particular episode, but I point to the Government’s response—or, rather, the response of NESO and other bodies—in developing very rapidly a forum in which whistleblowers can confidentially and without any concerns about their own future or safety participate...

As far as whistleblowing is concerned, I can speak only to this particular episode, but I point to the Government’s response—or, rather, the response of NESO and other bodies—in developing very rapidly a forum in which whistleblowers can confidentially and without any concerns about their own future or safety participate...

My Lords, first, in welcoming my noble friend’s response, can he confirm that there was no loss of supply to customers on the occasion of the incidents referred to? Secondly, in response to the question from the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, in which he attacked the Government’s investment in

wind...

My Lords, first, in welcoming my noble friend’s response, can he confirm that there was no loss of supply to customers on the occasion of the incidents referred to? Secondly, in response to the question from the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, in which he attacked the Government’s investment in

wind...

Yes, that does make it very important that we continue decarbonising our energy systems to make sure that they are very resilient in a different climate that we will have in the future, and that the consequences of, for example, continuing to provide energy via high-carbon fossil fuels are countered...

Yes, that does make it very important that we continue decarbonising our energy systems to make sure that they are very resilient in a different climate that we will have in the future, and that the consequences of, for example, continuing to provide energy via high-carbon fossil fuels are countered...

My Lords, does the episode not show that the integrity of the energy supply system is simply not fit for purpose? There is an overdependence on renewables that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

My Lords, does the episode not show that the integrity of the energy supply system is simply not fit for purpose? There is an overdependence on renewables that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

I disagree with the noble Baroness. The recent episode showed that, even in relatively new circumstances of extreme heat—rather than the more normal issue of energy margin certificates being issued because of the effect of cold and winter on the system—the system stood up to it very well and managed...

I disagree with the noble Baroness. The recent episode showed that, even in relatively new circumstances of extreme heat—rather than the more normal issue of energy margin certificates being issued because of the effect of cold and winter on the system—the system stood up to it very well and managed...

My Lords, can the Minister address the concern that the NESO inquiry is being conducted by a firm of City lawyers rather than electrical engineers? That gives the impression that the allocation of blame and legal liability is seen as more important than the integrity of the system. Is not...

My Lords, can the Minister address the concern that the NESO inquiry is being conducted by a firm of City lawyers rather than electrical engineers? That gives the impression that the allocation of blame and legal liability is seen as more important than the integrity of the system. Is not...

Many things are being done alongside the changing nature of the system to make sure that it retains its resilience and ability to supply power on a no-failure basis. These include continuing to build out the grid, and bringing forward ancillary services, new forms of artificial inertia, long-duration storage and...

Many things are being done alongside the changing nature of the system to make sure that it retains its resilience and ability to supply power on a no-failure basis. These include continuing to build out the grid, and bringing forward ancillary services, new forms of artificial inertia, long-duration storage and...

My Lords, will the Minister please accept that it is very important to ensure that the whistleblowing arrangements work effectively? Otherwise, people will use this opportunity to attack the Government’s excellent policy on moving as rapidly as we can to renewable energy, which is much cheaper and crucial for our...

My Lords, will the Minister please accept that it is very important to ensure that the whistleblowing arrangements work effectively? Otherwise, people will use this opportunity to attack the Government’s excellent policy on moving as rapidly as we can to renewable energy, which is much cheaper and crucial for our...

I could not agree with the noble Lord more. Whistleblowing is and should be an essential part of all these processes. Whistleblowers have to feel safe in what they say so that it can be properly looked at and lessons can be learned if it turns out that they pointed...

I could not agree with the noble Lord more. Whistleblowing is and should be an essential part of all these processes. Whistleblowers have to feel safe in what they say so that it can be properly looked at and lessons can be learned if it turns out that they pointed...