Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield on 16 June (HL7934), whether the four fires referred to include the fires at the substations in Huddersfield on 17 March 2025, in Hayes on 20 March 2025, near Lakeside Retail Park on 10 April 2025, and in Maida Vale on 29 April 2025; whether these were the only fires in substations in the last five years of which they are aware; and whether they are satisfied that all such fires are reported.

To clarify, five substation fires were reported to Government in the last five years, not four. In 2025, Government was informed of the fire at North Hyde Substation in Hayes in March, the fire at Aberdeen Place Substation in Maida Vale in April, and the fires at Exeter Substation and St John’s Wood Substation in May. In September 2021, Government was informed of the fire at Sellindge Substation.

Although rare, fires occasionally occur on the electricity network. DESNZ was not notified of the fires in Huddersfield and near Lakeside Retail Park in Brynmawr as these incidents fell below well-established incident reporting thresholds with industry. These thresholds are set so Government can monitor any potential or actual impact to customer supplies and act where necessary.