The National Electricity System Operator (NESO) has published a letter, outlining proposed reforms to its grid connections process, following stakeholder feedback from its November 2024 consultation. These reforms aim to ensure timely connections for strategically aligned projects to achieve the government’s Clean Power 2030 objectives. NESO proposes that certain categories of projects that meet specific requirements, such as submitting planning consent applications before NESO's final proposal submission to Ofgem (expected on 20 December 2024) and securing planning consent by the end of the Gate 2 evidence submission window (expected by the end May 2025), or being awarded a government Contract for Difference or a Capacity Market contract by NESO, or obtaining Ofgem cap and floor or merchant route regulatory approvals for interconnector or offshore hybrid asset projects, will be deemed as meeting the strategic alignment element of the Gate 2 criteria. These projects must still satisfy the 'readiness' element of the Gate 2 criteria and will remain eligible for advancement requests and be subject to reassessments. NESO intends to submit its final connections methodologies proposals to Ofgem by the end of 2024, with Ofgem’s decision expected in Q1 2025.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published the response to its Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) scoping report consultation for the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), conducted between March and April 2025. The consultation received 17 responses across four key themes: the SSEP zonal approach, policy review, baseline information and collaboration and alignment. Respondents generally supported the draft SEA scoping report but requested further clarity on cross-boundary impacts and environmental opportunities.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published its transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan (tCSNP) Refresh methodology, outlining how it will assess and recommend electricity transmission network reinforcement projects. The methodology details the process for evaluating network transfer requirements, available options, and development recommendations, while integrating with the Holistic Network Design Follow-Up Exercise. The document incorporates stakeholder feedback from the public consultation held between December 2024 and January 2025, and includes nine detailed annexes covering aspects from system requirements to competition assessment.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published the terms of reference for an independent external investigation, led by Eversheds Sutherland International LLP, into whistleblower allegations concerning operational decision-making and record-keeping. NESO states that Eversheds Sutherland will report to an independent panel chaired by an independent non-executive director of the NESO Board, alongside representatives from Ofgem and UK Government Investments (UKGI), and that employees may provide relevant information confidentially and anonymously.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published a transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan (tRESP) to guide electricity Distribution Network Operators’ (DNOs) network investment and business planning for the 2028–33 price control period. The tRESP marks the initial phase of NESO’s new statutory function as Great Britain’s strategic energy planner and is intended to support the move from existing distribution planning arrangements to a framework of enduring Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs). Full RESPs, covering 11 regions across England, Scotland and Wales, are expected to be developed from late 2026 and will provide whole-system plans addressing electricity, heat, transport, storage and associated infrastructure.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published a blog post, written by the Director of Connections Reform, Matt Vickers, providing an update on the grid connections reform process. Its reform efforts focus on increasing accountability through clearer milestones for project progression and providing flexibility to reform the queue in line with required technology. NESO intends to launch a consultation in early November 2024, seeking views on the specific approaches and guidelines for the connections reform process to support clean power objectives.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published its 'Beyond 2030 – Electricity Transmission Update', which updates its March 2024 assessment of the electricity transmission network needed in Great Britain during the 2030s. The update explains how new evidence should inform Ofgem's decisions on near-term network investment and reflects the government's Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, updated Future Energy Scenarios, connections reform and new proposals from transmission owners. It confirms the need for timely investment to expand the transmission network, connect more clean energy, support economic growth and keep costs down for consumers, and recommends greater use of offshore cabling and onshore network upgrades where appropriate. NESO recommends early investment in projects where the need is clear, while stating that longer-term projects will be developed further with Ofgem and transmission owners through future planning processes.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published an updated connections reform timeline, following delays caused by issues with its online Connections Portal for the Gate 2 to Whole Queue (G2WQ) evidence submission window earlier this summer. The updated timeline sets latest delivery dates rather than fixed deadlines to enable flexibility for data quality and assurance, while NESO remains committed to meeting milestones ahead of these dates where possible. From November 2025, NESO and Distribution Network Operators will begin communicating directly with customers whose projects have secured a place in the reformed connections queue, with revised connection offers to follow from December 2025. Priority will be given to protected projects due to connect in 2026 and 2027, after which, in 2026, NESO will move on to issuing offers for projects with connection dates in 2030 and 2035.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published its timeline for implementing connections reform across 2025–26, aimed at providing developers with greater clarity. Developers and Distribution Network Operators must submit evidence of project maturity between 8–29 July 2025. Following this, NESO will begin the process of reorganising over 3,000 projects currently in the transmission connection queue. New connection agreements are expected to be issued from autumn 2025, with priority given to ‘first needed, first deliverable’ projects that are deemed critical for achieving clean power by 2030.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has submitted a series of connections reform proposals to Ofgem, including Code Modifications CMP434, CMP435, and CM095, along with three proposed connections reform methodologies. If approved, these reforms will prioritise projects based on readiness and alignment with the government's Clean Power 2030 (CP30) Action Plan 2030, introduce new delivery requirements, and eliminate stalled projects from the queue. Ofgem is expected to make a decision on these proposals in Q1 2025. Subject to approval, these changes, along with associated licence modifications, will facilitate the implementation of a reformed connections process starting in May 2025. An evidence submission window will open in Q2 2025, providing project developers in the current queue a minimum of two weeks to submit a Gate 2 declaration/application. NESO will then review submissions and work with network companies to establish the new connections queue via the ‘Gate 2 to Whole Queue’ exercise. NESO plans to begin issuing Gate 1 offers from Q2 2025 and aims to issue Gate 2 offers as soon as possible in 2025.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has submitted its methodology for the refreshed second Transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan (tCSNP) to Ofgem at the end of March 2025, following consultation from December 2024 to January 2025. The tCSNP provides recommendations on electricity transmission network reinforcement projects and investment timing, performing the role of the Network Options Assessment. Ofgem has requested Transmission Owners develop their infrastructure projects further before funding approval.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has announced plans to conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment as part of its strategic energy planning works for future network designs. Following the publication of the Pathway to 2030 and Beyond 2030 reports, which outline a Holistic Network Design for coordinating offshore electricity generation, NESO will undertake further work to develop an implementation plan for these designs. To support the Holistic Network Design, NESO will conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment, which will be undertaken by consultants RPS, to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into its final network design recommendations. NESO will also conduct a Habitats Regulations Assessment and a Marine Conservation Zone Assessment over the next twelve months.