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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of the Ofgem review of Embedded Benefit grid charges on energy intensive industries and the pace of roll-out of energy storage technologies in the UK.

Network charging is a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator, and it is leading the review of embedded benefits related to Transmission Network Use of System charges. Proposals for changing the embedded benefits regime are currently being progressed through an open industry process, and it is likely that Ofgem will undertake a further consultation and impact assessment in early 2017. It will make a decision on its approach to consultation and assessment when it receives the final modification report. We will engage with Ofgem as part of its assessment process to ensure that Government policy interests are taken into account, including aspects such as the potential effect of reducing the level of embedded benefits on household and business electricity costs (including energy intensive industries) and energy storage.