The voice of the networks
The voice of the networks
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The UK's electricity system is sometimes referred to as the national grid. In reality, it's a series of networks spread across the country and operated by different companies. These networks are made up of wires and cables that come together to take electricity from where it's generated to where it's used.
In a nutshell, transmission networks cover the long journey from where energy is produced to where it's needed in large quantities, while distribution networks take it the last mile, bringing it right to your doorstep.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) manage the entire system. They make sure that there's enough power being generated to meet demand, which is known as "balancing the system."
The big challenge facing the UK’s energy system is decarbonisation. Network operators are investing and innovating to help enable net zero. We're connecting more renewable generation, improving and accelerating grid connections, upgrading the network to support electric vehicle charging point and heat pump installation. Network operators are continuing to invest tens of billions of pounds, and employ tens of thousands of people, right around the UK, to make this transition a reality.
Think of transmission networks as the motorways for electricity. They carry a huge amount of electricity over long distances, just like a high speed road connecting cities.
There are three transmission network operators in the UK. In England and Wales, the transmission network is operated by National Grid. In the south of Scotland, it's operated by SP Energy Networks and in the north of Scotland by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks.
Distribution networks are like the dual carriageways and B-roads in your community. They take electricity from the transmission lines and bring it to your home, business, or any other place where you use power. These lines make sure the electricity gets to where it's needed locally.
Customers in the Republic of Ireland should contact ESB Networks for electricity.
Electricity network operators employ 26,000 people including 1,500 apprentices. In the future, National Grid predicts 400,000 people are needed by 2050 to deliver the UK’s decarbonisation goals
At the end of January 2024, there were more than 55,000 EV charging points according to ZapMap
Electricity networks are spending and investing around £30bn over this price control period and undertaking the biggest programme of reforms in the history of the grid
The electricity network comprises around 500,000 miles of wires and cables
Since 2008, GB networks have invested £1.2bn on more than 1,200 innovation projects
Total of amount of contracted energy flexibility, 3,237 megawatts (MW)
The chart below shows the different parts making up the average dual fuel energy bill, as of the January 2025 price cap. We've sourced this from the Ofgem website.
The cost of running, maintaining and upgrading our electricity networks makes up around 10% of the average duel fuel bill. That's around 48p per day.
For this, our network operators sustain 26,000 jobs, facilitate 1,500 apprenticeships - with 700 more being recruited this year - and ensure the safe, reliable operation of over 500,000 miles of wires and cables. Moreover, these companies are driving £33 billion of expenditure and investment over the next few years to ensure a secure, reliable energy grid for the future.
The chart below is provided for reference only. Prices have been rounded for ease of reading. Source: Ofgem.
The campaign Moving The Grid Forward was launched in March 2025. The campaign is funded by the transmission network owners, National Grid Electricity Transmission, Scottish Power Transmission and Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks Transmission, and coordinated by ENA. The campaign follows a recommendation from the government’s Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser, whose August 2023 report stated: “The importance of this work to our country and to the environment needs to be communicated to the whole population so that when individual proposals for reinforcement are made, communities have some context in which to view them.” You can find out more about the campaign and the future of the grid here: www.movingthegridforward.co.uk
The voice of the networks
