Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a right to local supply for renewable energy generation schemes.

The right to local energy supply already exists under the Electricity Act 1989. Ofgem has powers to award supply licenses that are restricted to specified geographical areas or premise types.

In view of recent supply market instability Ofgem has paused assessment of new supply licence applications and is strengthening the licensing process to ensure participants are sufficiently resilient to market shocks.

One of Ofgem’s key strategic priorities remains to increase flexibility across the electricity system to support the delivery of net zero and ensuring that consumers benefit from these innovative changes.