29.09.2026

New Government Electricity Investment Plans

A Bid to Bring UK Energy Costs Down

At the final day of the Labour Party Conference (Tuesday, 29th Sept 2026) and as part of his first keynote address, PM Andy Burnham is expected to announce New Electricity Grid Investment Plans.

Great British Grid

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to announce the creation of Great British Grid (GB Grid), a new publicly owned body designed to invest in Britain’s electricity network.

The organisation will sit within Great British Energy and is intended to work alongside existing private transmission companies. Its proposed role will include investing in new grid infrastructure and competing for transmission connection projects, with the aim of increasing competition and speeding up connections for businesses.

The announcement forms part of Burnham’s plans for greater public involvement in the UK’s energy infrastructure. He is also expected to set an ambition for UK energy costs to move closer to those of other European countries over the next decade.

Tackling Grid Delays

Britain faces growing pressure to expand and modernise its electricity grid as more renewable energy projects come online. Offshore wind farms and other renewable developments are often located far from major centres of demand, requiring new transmission infrastructure to transport electricity around the country.

Ofgem estimates that around £70 billion of investment will be required in the electricity grid between 2025 and 2031. Meanwhile, the National Audit Office has warned that the number of projects waiting for grid connections has increased significantly, with delays also growing.

GB Grid is expected to help businesses finance connection infrastructure and potentially co-invest alongside them.

Public Investment and Energy

Funding for GB Grid is expected to come from the existing budget of Great British Energy rather than through a separate new funding programme. Reports have suggested the initial investment could be around £4 billion.

The government says the approach could accelerate infrastructure development, support renewable energy and help businesses connect to the electricity network more quickly.

Further Information

BBC News: www.bbc.co.uk/news/burnham-conference

GOV.UK – Great British Energy: www.gov.uk/great-british-energy

OFGEM (energy regulator for Great Britain): www.ofgem.gov.uk

GOV.UK – Great British Energy: www.gbe.gov.uk