Regional Energy Strategic Planning - Methodology Consultation
NESO’s RESP Methodology sets out the proposed approach to implementing the RESP role. NESO is now consulting on the RESP Methodology, which opened on 17 November 2025 and closes on 16 January 2026.
This consultation is a step towards producing the final RESP Methodology which will be published in Summer 2026, subject to Ofgem and DESNZ approval. The RESP Methodology will then be used to produce the first set of full 11 RESPs – one for Scotland, one for Wales and for nine English regions.
On this page you can access the following: the Methodology Consultation, the Methodology Executive Summary (provided in Welsh), the Qualtrics consultation response form (also provided in Welsh), the consultation questions in PDF format - to help you view the questions offline before responding via the Qualtrics form (also provided in Welsh), the Methodology Consultation FAQs, details of our methodology deep dive webinars and any useful links, resources and recordings.
Planning for Great Britain’s energy future
Regional energy strategic planning is a fundamental step in NESO’s ambitions to deliver a whole-system approach to strategic energy planning in GB.
The regional energy strategic planning role has been established to develop plans for nations and regions, focusing on electricity and gas distribution networks. These networks are currently planned separately. By moving to a joined-up, whole-system approach, progress towards net zero can be accelerated.
NESO’s strategic energy plans will promote economic growth and identify the investments needed for the energy transition in GB. Regional energy strategic planning is part of our wider strategic energy planning activity and focuses on local considerations within nations and regions. The 11 RESPs will complement other GB-wide NESO strategic plans, such as the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) and the Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP), and the Future Energy Scenarios (FES) pathways.
Through regional energy strategic planning, we will be engaging with local customers and stakeholders for the first time in Great Britain to understand the key priorities and needs within the nations and regions. We will use local data to set out the approach to how our future energy systems will be planned. Our strategic energy plans will guide gas and electricity distribution networks' business plans, ensuring consistency and reflecting local priorities.
The methodology sets out the five components and supporting functions that will make up each of the 11 RESPs.
| Nations and Regions Contexts | A long-term view of local conditions and priorities, informed by local engagement and data. |
|---|---|
| Pathways | These are projections of future energy supply and demand in each nation and region. These will consist of one short-term pathway covering the next 10 years, and multiple long-term pathways to reflect uncertainty, extending to at least 2050. |
| Consistent Planning Assumptions | These will be published in a single document that will be used by all distribution networks to ensure a consistent approach to network planning. It will allow for variation to reflect differences across nations and regions |
| Spatial Context | This will be a map of the pathways overlaid with network capacity to highlight areas where network investment may be required. |
| Strategic Investment Need | Identifies areas where network investment will accelerate decarbonisation, support long-term economic development, and unlock system-wide value. These will be areas that are strategically significant and more complex due to timescales, geography, or trade-offs between energy types, priorities or stakeholders. |
| Technical Coordination | Ensures that the RESPs are technically robust, coherent across nations and regions, across energy types and in relation to GB-wide strategic plans. |
|---|---|
| Engagement | Engagement is essential to developing the RESPs. We will establish structured, transparent, and accessible routes to enable our customers and stakeholders across GB to be able to influence their RESPs. |
| Local Actor Support | The purpose of local actor support is to enable customers and stakeholders to engage with RESP, by providing additional support to those that need it. With particular focus on local government and local energy representatives. |
| Digital and Data | Provides accessible platforms for transparent information sharing. |
| Societal Considerations | Uses analytical tools to assess societal impacts and ensure inclusive planning. |
The consultation gives customers and stakeholders the opportunity to understand the RESP components and their purpose, our work to-date, and to provide responses to specific questions. We will use the answers to help us develop the final RESP Methodology, which is intended to be published in Summer 2026, subject to approval by Ofgem and DESNZ.
NESO is encouraging all interested parties to respond to the consultation. The consultation is open to all customer and stakeholder groups, at all levels of technical knowledge, and all levels of seniority.
For fairness and consistency, we require responses to be submitted through the Qualtrics form. This is an online system where the consultation questions can be answered. The platform is easy to use and responses can be saved throughout. If you cannot respond using this platform, please contact us via [email protected]
View consultation questions and respond
Gweld ac ymateb i’r cwestiynau ymgynghori yn y Gymraeg
You can access the consultation questions in PDF format in the links below to help you compose your questions offline. However, your final response must be submitted using the Qualtrics form above.
Please read our Consultation FAQs for further information. If you have additional queries, please contact [email protected]
Register for our series of six topic-specific deep dive webinars from 25 November to 3 December 2026:
- Nations & Regions Contexts webinar - 25 November, 9.30am - 11.00am
- Pathways, Consistent Planning Assumptions & Spatial Context webinar – 25 November, 1.30pm - 3.00pm
- Local Actor Support webinar – 27 November, 10.00am - 11.30am
- Governance webinar – 27 November, 1.30pm to 3.00pm
- Strategic Investment Need webinar – 3 December, 10.00am - 11.30am
- Technical Coordination & Network Planning Assurance webinar - 3 December, 1.30pm - 3.00pm
Methodology Consultation webinar and slides
On 17 November 2025, we held our methodology consultation launch webinar. View the slides and watch the recording below.
View slides Watch webinar
Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP): Methodology Consultation Webinar - Nations & Regions Context
On 25 November 2025, we held our methodology consultation technical webinar for Nations & Regions Context. View the slides and watch the recording below.
Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP): Methodology Consultation Webinar – Pathways, Consistent Planning Assumptions and Spatial Context
On 25 November 2025, we held our methodology consultation technical webinar for Pathways, Consistent Planning Assumptions and Spatial Context. View the slides and watch the recording below.
Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP): Methodology Consultation Webinar – Pathways, Consistent Planning Assumptions and Spatial Context
On 25 November 2025, we held our methodology consultation technical webinar for Pathways, Consistent Planning Assumptions and Spatial Context. View the slides below.
Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP): Methodology Consultation Webinar – Local Actor Support
On 27 November 2025, we held our methodology consultation technical webinar for Local Actor Support. View the slides and watch the recording below.
Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP): Methodology Consultation Webinar – Governance
On 27 November 2025, we held our methodology consultation technical webinar for Governance. View the slides and watch the recording below.
Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP): Methodology Consultation Webinar - Strategic Investment Need
On 3 December 2025, we held our methodology consultation technical webinar for Strategic Investment Need. View the slides and watch the recording below
Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP): Methodology Consultation Webinar - Technical Coordination and Network Planning Assurance
On 3 December 2025, we held our methodology consultation technical webinar for Technical Coordination and Network Planning Assurance. View the slides and watch the recording below
Any questions?
If you still have questions about the methodology consultation, please read our FAQs (see above). If you have questions that are not included in the FAQs, please email [email protected]