Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help ensure that rural electricity networks are adequately prepared for (a) extreme weather and (b) future levels of demand.

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero works extensively with the energy sector to continually improve and maintain the resilience, preparedness and security of energy infrastructure against risks including severe weather events.

Ofgem provides a specific Worst Served Customers allowance through the RIIO-ED2 price control to provide funding to electricity Distribution Network Operators to improve the service experienced by those customers who receive the poorest levels of performance. Worst Served Customers are classified as being worst served because they experience interruptions caused by faults on the high voltage network. This often occurs in rural areas where the cost of improving the reliability of this part of the network is particularly high, in part due to the low volume of customers served by that part of the network.

We are also taking action to upgrade and expand electricity networks, including in rural areas, to ensure the network is ready to meet increasing demand. We are increasing capacity in the network by accelerating infrastructure build through our reforms to planning, regulation, supply chains regulation and a reformed connections process.