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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps (a) his Department and (b) Ofgem plan to take to ensure that distribution networks are prepared to meet additional demand from (i) high economic growth and (ii) rising rates of electrical vehicle take-up.

Distribution Network Operators are investing up to £24.6bn over their current price control (2015-2023) on their networks, including in meeting additional demand. Ofgem have begun consideration of the next price control for the network companies beyond 2023, which will take into account economic growth and the increase in electric vehicles (EVs). There are flexibility mechanisms built into these price controls to enable network companies to respond to unexpected changes.

In July 2017, Government launched its Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, along with Ofgem, which enables new technologies to increase capacity and the energy system to manage new sources of demand more efficiently. As part of this, smart charging measures are included in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act which means that Government can now set standards so all new EV chargepoints installed are smart enabled. This will provide benefits to consumers and reduce the demands on the networks.

Finally, as outlined in the Road to Zero strategy, the Government launched the EV Energy Taskforce on 11 June. The taskforce will consider what further actions should be taken so that the energy system is prepared for the uptake of electric vehicles.