System Access Reform
The System Access Reform programme will transform system access planning, setting a new standard for efficiency, coordination, and transparency.
The programme
System access is the coordinated management of taking sections of the national electricity transmission network out of service, whether for maintenance, new generation connections, or essential upgrades.
Lead by NESO, National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), Scottish Power Transmission, and Scottish & Southern Energy Transmission, this ambitious programme - System Access Reform - will transform system access planning, setting a new standard for efficiency, coordination and transparency.
What the programme does
The System Access Reform programme has been set up to transform the way the current processes for requesting system access operate, and has been split into three main focus areas of work:
Deliver commitments
Deliver on our commitments made under the Transmission Acceleration Plan, which was consulted on with industry and endorsed by government. This work will deliver identified benefits early to maximise their value quickly.
Build System Access Plan
Build an enduring, holistic, 6-year System Access Plan. This rolling plan will look to accommodate greater than 80% of all planned outages, allowing for improved outage optimisation across years to allow increased system access to take place.
End-to-end Review
Carry out an end-to-end review of the industry system access planning, and delivery processes for enhancement opportunities across people, process, technology, information, and culture (ways of working) between NESO, the GB TOs (Transmission Owners), OFTOs (Offshore Transmission Owners), DNOs (Distribution Network Owners), Generators, Interconnectors, and DCCs (Directly Connected Customer). Ultimately this review will deliver a prioritised set of recommendations.
Webinar to the Industry: System Access Reform Programme – 25 September 2025
Catch up on the session led by Graham Stein, System Access Reform Programme Director, as he introduces NESO’s ambitions and three transformative projects —Transmission Acceleration Project, System Access Plan, and End-to-End System Access Transformation Project.
Get in touch
If you think you might like to learn more about the System Access Reform programme and how it will transform system access planning, setting a new standard for efficiency, coordination, and transparency, please contact us.