The UK’s first Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser CBE, was appointed today (6 July 2022), marking the government’s most recent effort to guarantee reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for the UK in the long term.
The UK government announced lofty goals earlier this year to increase the country’s reliance on clean energy sources including nuclear power and offshore wind. Bills will decrease and energy independence will improve as the nation’s domestic supply of clean, inexpensive electricity is increased; yet, this also calls for new network infrastructure to support it.
In order to ensure the proper infrastructure, such as electricity poles and transmission lines, are in the appropriate places so clean, British-generated electricity can flow to people throughout the country, Nick’s new position as Electricity Networks Commissioner will be crucial.
This involves creating suggestions to help cut the end-to-end project process in half by the middle of the 2020s and drastically cutting timetables for deploying onshore transmission network infrastructure by about 3 years.
Nick has more than 30 years of experience in the field of electricity networks and has advised government and business on energy policy. He presently serves as the Energy Systems Catapult’s chairman.
Following previous announcements of Tim Pick as the government’s Offshore Wind Champion and Simon Bowen as the industry advisor for Great British Nuclear, Nick’s appointment will help to further improve the UK’s energy balance for future generations.
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:
“I am delighted to appoint Nick Winser as the UK’s first Electricity Networks Commissioner.
“Nick will play a pivotal role in ensuring the right network infrastructure is in the right places to ensure households can benefit from our abundant supply of clean, affordable, home-grown energy.”
Newly appointed Electricity Networks Commissioner Nick Winser said:
“Electricity networks are essential to transporting new low carbon power generation, such as that from offshore wind and nuclear, to where it is needed, in homes and businesses across the country, where it will be used more and more for new purposes like charging electric vehicles and heating households through heat pumps.
“I look forward to taking on this important new role where I can help accelerate the delivery of new electricity transmission infrastructure, helping to provide consumers with a secure, reliable, supply of green electricity, while keeping costs as low as possible.”