Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public of the (a) procurement and (b) resale of coal bought for emergency use in power stations during winter 2022-23.

National Grid: Electricity System Operator (ESO) have Winter Contingency Contracts with three coal operators. Their current forecast for the total cost over of the contracts for winter 22/23 to 31 March 2023 is £308m, including the cost of the coal and operational costs. This will continue to be refined over the contracted period. To reduce the overall costs to consumers, any unused coal will be sold back to the market when the contracts expire. The final value that is recovered from the sale of the coal will be published by ESO.