Third Special Report - Grid capacity in Wales: Government response

This is the government's response, published 24 January 2023.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Committee's report and says it will continue work on strategic planning, regulatory approval, planning consents and streamlining connections, while declining some recommendations on working groups, legislation and Ofgem's duty.

• On Ofgem's primary duty, the government "does not consider an amendment to Ofgem's primary duty to be necessary", saying the duty to protect consumers' interests already includes reducing emissions in line with net zero.
• On community energy, it will not establish a working group "at this time", citing the existing Community Energy Contact Group, and has "no plans to bring forward legislative proposals, at this time".
• On connection costs, it notes that from April 2023 Ofgem will socialise a further proportion of network reinforcement costs for distribution connection customers, which "will reduce the upfront cost".
• On planning, it intends to publish a full NSIP Reform Action Plan and consultations "in due course", and says revised energy National Policy Statements will be published "soon".

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