Burnham to Launch Great British Grid as UK Faces £70 Billion Rewiring Need
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 29
Burnham to Launch Great British Grid as UK Faces £70 Billion Rewiring Need
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 29
Summary
Tuesday’s conference speech will set out Great British Grid, a new state-owned body that would invest in Britain’s electricity network and compete for transmission connection projects.
Labour says the body would speed grid hook-ups by increasing competition, backing firms that fund their own connection infrastructure and co-investing where needed to cut energy costs over the next 10 years.
The push comes as Britain’s ageing grid needs major expansion for renewables, with Ofgem estimating £70 billion of investment from 2025 to 2031 and the National Audit Office warning that connection queues and delays are worsening.
Funding is expected to come from the existing budget of GB Energy, fitting Burnham’s broader drive for greater public control of utilities ahead of a difficult Budget and wider debates over how to fund future pledges.