Public invited for views on local energy network planning

The first new pathways towards a plan to ensure communities get the local energy network infrastructure they need to meet a tripling in electricity demand by 2050 – driving economic growth and decarbonisation in every part of Great Britain - is now open for public consultation. 

The transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan (tRESP) is the first publication in the journey towards transforming and improving local energy infrastructure, developing bespoke plans for Scotland, Wales and nine English regions. The new blueprint will help ensure that everyone – from city to hamlet – has access to the reliable, clean and affordable energy they need. 

Energy needs are changing rapidly. The government has a plan to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years across the country and data centres are projected to grow exponentially as businesses continue to digitise. 

Homes and businesses are also making the shift to heat pumps and electric vehicles. Increasing numbers of local renewable energy and storage projects are powering local communities. High users of energy in industry and transport are decarbonising, ensuring they can thrive in a global low carbon economy. 

How to respond 

The consultation will run until 3 November, with the transitional RESP being published in January 2026. It follows over 2,000 people already joining public forums earlier this year to discuss the development of transitional RESP plans, alongside an industry working group.

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Julian Leslie, Director of Strategic Energy Planning and Chief Engineer at NESO, said:  

“The transition to a clean and affordable energy future will bring new and exciting opportunities to every part of Britain - and NESO wants to make sure the infrastructure is in place, where and when communities and businesses need it. 

“So, wherever you live we want to hear your thoughts. That way our transitional regional energy plan can be best tailored to your anticipated future energy needs, helping inform future investment in your local electricity network and growing your local economy.”  

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

“We’re delivering the biggest upgrade to Britain’s outdated electricity network in decades and communities now have the chance to have their say on NESO's plans to ensure we have the infrastructure we need in the right places, to power homes and businesses for generations to come. 

“It forms a vital part of our clean energy mission in building an energy system that is cheaper, cleaner and more secure and protects billpayers – at the same time as supporting skilled jobs and economic growth across the country.”

Jack Presley-Abbott, Deputy Director of Strategic Planning at Ofgem, said:

"The tRESP is a vital first step in strengthening accountability and coordination in distribution system planning. It will be a key input to Distribution Network Operators’ price controls. NESO has delivered at pace while building its capability and we welcome the collaborative approach taken with stakeholders.

“Further refinement is needed ahead of the tRESP outputs for January 2026 alongside clarification of how NESO will build towards the first full RESPs in 2027. We encourage all stakeholders to engage with this consultation and the upcoming methodology consultation for full RESPs in November.”

Scott Mathieson, Network Planning and Regulation Director, SP Energy Networks, said:

“Today’s consultation is an important milestone on the journey towards strategic and regionally co-ordinated planning across the energy system, including local and combined authorities, developers, network companies and NESO. We have been working closely with NESO on the development of the supporting methodologies and the detail of the tRESP, and this collective whole system view will enable green growth opportunities in our regions. The tRESP will be an important input to our plans for the development of our electricity distribution network serving 6 million customers across Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and the North West of England.”

Paul Glendinning, Energy Systems Director, Northern Powergrid:

We at Northern Powergrid have worked closely with the RESP team throughout 2025 to develop their plans. The tRESP output will play a central role in shaping our next price control. By embedding it at the heart of our approach, Ofgem, customers, Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), and the wider stakeholder community will benefit from the greater consistency and transparency it delivers.”

Sotiris Georgiopoulos, Director of Distribution System Operator, UK Power Networks 

“UK Power Networks is working closely with the NESO RESP teams and Ofgem to inform their work so we can all accelerate network investment where it matters most within our local communities. We welcome the draft transitional RESP as a critical input to our business planning process for the period 2028 -2033.  

We are pleased that it has been informed by the work we co-developed with Local Authorities to support Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) development for our region.

We are looking forward to working with NESO and Ofgem to review and finalise the proposals to ensure that it meets our customers’ needs for our region."

The role of NESO in local energy distribution 

The planning of the distribution networks is currently led by the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) – who carry electricity and gas at a local level to homes and businesses. However, as the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we also have responsibilities for strategic whole energy planning at a local level across every nation and region of Great Britain.  

The transitional RESP will include pathways to guide the development of the local electricity distribution investment plans between 2028 and 2033. Once published in January 2026, the final transitional RESP will be used by the six DNOs to support the development of their next round of business plans. 

This is in advance of us developing full plans for each nation and region in 2027, which will consider all types of local energy needs – from new housing developments and industry to new data centres and low carbon energy generation. 

View the consultation