February Blog
We reached a major milestone last week in completing and submitting our response to Ofgem’s Call for Evidence on NGN’s new business plan for 2026-2031. Our response has been loaded onto this website for NGN’s stakeholders to review.
I hope that it reflects the hard work that has gone in to both the production of the business plan and the scrutiny and challenge posed by the ISG throughout the development of the plan.
Overall the ISG are supportive of NGN’s proposals, which strike a balance between what is mandatory maintenance and management of the network with NGN’s ambition to support the transition to net zero and a fairer energy system for the north (where stakeholders and customers have indicated their priorities and preferences). And both NGN and the ISG have been very mindful that the top priority for customers is affordability and hence our focus throughout on value for money and costs.
But we have also highlighted areas of the plan where Ofgem should take a deeper look – particularly around areas outside the scope of the ISG’s remit. Throughout we questioned why NGN should undertake the proposed work, how it would lead to customer benefits and improved services, and why customers should be paying for it.
I hope NGN’s stakeholders will read our response and provide us with feedback on whether we have captured issues of most importance as we move into the next period of the energy systems transition.
Our work in the coming year will focus on how NGN is preparing for the start of the GD3 price control period, and we shall continue to monitor the company’s ongoing performance.
Jenny Saunders
Chair
10 Feb 2025