The ‘great grid upgrade’ is off track – ministers should spell out the risks for bills | Nils Pratley
News Source
•Fri, 11 Sep 2026 05:00:03 GMT
📰 What Happened
A National Audit Office report says Britain's 70 billion pound plan to rebuild its electricity grid is behind schedule and over budget. The programme aims to connect clean power by 2030. Of 88 projects, 12 have already been cancelled or delayed. Writer Nils Pratley says ministers should tell the public this could push up energy bills.
The report calls for far more transparency from the bodies running the work.
🔍 The Backstory
The UK wants clean electricity by 2030. That means carrying wind and solar power from where it is made to where people live. It needs new pylons, cables and substations.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the National Energy System Operator and the regulator Ofgem run the plans. Critics say they publish lots of detail but no clear big-picture update. The spending may grow even larger in the 2030s, so the risk to bills could last for years.
🎯 Why It Matters
Energy bills are a big worry for households. If the grid work keeps slipping, the cost of heating and lighting homes may rise more than promised.
A National Audit Office report says Britain's 70 billion pound plan to rebuild its electricity grid is behind schedule and over budget. The programme aims to connect clean power by 2030. Of 88 projects, 12 have already been cancelled or delayed. Writer Nils Pratley says ministers should tell the public this could push up energy bills.
The report calls for far more transparency from the bodies running the work.
The UK wants clean electricity by 2030. That means carrying wind and solar power from where it is made to where people live. It needs new pylons, cables and substations.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the National Energy System Operator and the regulator Ofgem run the plans. Critics say they publish lots of detail but no clear big-picture update. The spending may grow even larger in the 2030s, so the risk to bills could last for years.
Energy bills are a big worry for households. If the grid work keeps slipping, the cost of heating and lighting homes may rise more than promised.