With increased electrification comes the need to ensure the national grid can cope with the increase in demand. Recent government announcements regarding significantly increasing the rollout of zero-carbon, renewable wind power is a welcome step. By 2050, the National Grid predicts that electricity demand could double as sectors such as transport and heating electrify. With long grid connection times and outdated infrastructure, the current network is not equipped to handle decentralized renewable energy sources. The time to change this is now.

Preparing the local grid in time to enable net zero needs to be one of the UK’s critical infrastructure programmes over the next 25 years – with the bulk of the work delivered by 2040. Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) – the people responsible for getting the electricity into your home – must urgently invest in the low voltage network so there are no delays to the decarbonisation of heat. A regulatory requirement would make this happen.

We need to ensure that Ofgem – the industry regulator – ensures we plan and invest in good time to enable households to charge their electric vehicles and run their heat pumps – and ensure that network upgrades are deliverable.

Achieving our net zero goals relies on it.

You can play your part by emailing your MP to ask them to support the urgent reform of Ofgem.