Recommendation 65

To address the delivery risks to the 2035 target, the Government will need to ensure that planning and environmental authorities are properly resourced, that planning guidance is aligned with its decarbonisation goals and that the process is streamlined. Ofgem needs to approve investment in the electricity networks ahead of need and network owners need to deliver on their business plans. The process to securing a grid connection must be overhauled. Demand-side flexibility needs to be treated as an equal partner to supply and customers, who are paying for all this new infrastructure, must be at the heart of the transition. This will only be achieved with improved market signals to reward flexible services and reform of the energy retail sector. Ofgem and the Future System Operator should be given clear duties to deliver on net zero. (Paragraph 247) 112 Decarbonisation of the power sector