Grid connection delays are ‘unacceptable’, minister admits

Long waits for developers to secure grid connections are “unacceptable” and a social tariff could be very helpful, energy ministers have said.

At the second ministerial question time for the recently established Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which took place yesterday (Tuesday 18 April), shadow business minister Seema Malhotra branded it as a “disgrace” that “huge delays to grid connections are holding back the supply of renewable energy to UK homes and businesses”, while energy prices “rocket”.

The Labour MP cited recent figures showing that wind and solar developers are facing waits of up to 15 years to secure grid connections for their projects.

Responding on behalf of the government, junior energy minister Andrew Bowie admitted that current levels of delays for grid connections are “completely unacceptable”.

“Everyone in the House would acknowledge that the situation regarding grid connection times is not acceptable,” he said, adding that the government has commissioned the Electricity Networks Commissioner Nick Winser to submit a report on how to accelerate delivery of network infrastructure, which is due to be published in June.

But Bowie rejected as “utterly ridiculous” an accusation by Labour MP Anna McMorrin that the government is “purposely trying to keep energy prices high and at the mercy of fossil fuels”.

Highlighting the internal Tory party challenges that the government faces upgrading the grid, Priti Patel warned that the east of England is having to do the “heavy lifting” on installing new network infrastructure.

The former home secretary, who represents a constituency in Essex, said: “Local communities across the entire region are horrified by National Grid’s plans to build pylons across the entire region, which will connect and increase more energy supply.”

Earlier during DESNZ question time, the department’s secretary of state Grant Shapps responded to a question about whether the government is planning to introduce a cut price social tariff for low income customers by saying it “could be very helpful”.

And energy minister Graham Stuart told the House of Commons that the decarbonisation of heat remains “a major challenge and we need to do more”.

“We need to do more to change the trajectory if we are to meet the target of 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028.”