Have your say: NESO begins consultation on regional energy needs
NESO has opened a major consultation to help define how future energy networks will be planned at a regional level across Great Britain.
For the first time, formal Regional Energy Strategic Plans will set out the infrastructure each nation and region needs to support decarbonisation. The plans will take a whole-system view, bringing together electricity, gas and emerging low carbon technologies to ensure local areas can develop without facing grid constraints.
NESO will deliver 11 plans in total: one for Scotland, one for Wales and nine for the English regions. The organisation is inviting local authorities, network companies, community groups and other stakeholders to help design the methodology that will guide all future plans.
Julian Leslie, Director of Strategic Energy Planning and Chief Engineer at NESO, said:
“To achieve the ambitions of every part of Great Britain and make the right choices to meet our future energy needs, we need regional energy strategic plans that can reflect local priorities across every nation and region.”
NESO says the plans will identify what infrastructure is required, where it should be located and when it must be delivered. This work will support the wider national strategy and help accelerate upgrades to distribution networks as demand increases.
The final methodology is expected in summer 2026, subject to approval from Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. NESO will then begin developing the first plans with councils, network operators, consumer groups and wider stakeholders.
Regional planning, NESO says, will play a critical role in securing affordable clean energy and supporting economic growth. The organisation wants communities to be actively involved in shaping a system that reflects their needs, rather than relying on decisions made centrally.
The consultation is open until 16 January 2026.
IGEM members can watch a recent presentation from Julian Leslie on IGEMtv.
Read more: NESO ready to shape energy plans for every nation and region