Industry News Roundup July 2026
Editor's Introduction
This week's utility industry news was shaped by three major themes: the growing impact of artificial intelligence on electricity infrastructure, increased focus on cyber resilience across critical national infrastructure, and continued efforts to modernise the UK's electricity networks through improved data sharing and planning. Together, these developments demonstrate how technology, energy policy and operational resilience are becoming increasingly interconnected.
Monday 27/07 – New Network Data Exchange Rules Approved
Ofgem approved Grid Code modification GC0139, introducing enhanced planning-data exchange between the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and network operators. The new arrangements will replace parts of the existing annual submission process with more structured and frequent exchanges of power-system models and planning information.
The reform has been designed to improve visibility across transmission and distribution networks as Britain accommodates growing levels of battery storage, renewable generation, electric vehicle charging and flexible demand. Industry commentators note that network visibility is becoming increasingly important as more energy assets connect directly to local distribution systems rather than the transmission network.
For utility suppliers and network operators, better planning data should support improved forecasting, investment planning and operational decision-making.
Sources: Ofgem, NESO
Tuesday 28/07 – Energy Sector Urged to Strengthen Cyber Defences
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), working alongside international partners from 12 countries, issued a warning regarding Russian state-backed cyber actors targeting critical national infrastructure sectors, including energy. The advisory highlighted the exploitation of poorly secured network devices and urged organisations to strengthen cyber security controls.
The warning follows publication of the UK's Energy Sector Cyber Security Strategy, jointly developed by DESNZ, Ofgem, NESO and the NCSC. The strategy recognises that as energy systems become more digital, interconnected and decentralised, cyber resilience must be treated with the same level of importance as operational safety and reliability.
For utility suppliers, growing reliance on customer platforms, market systems and cloud-based infrastructure means cyber resilience is increasingly a business-critical issue rather than solely an IT concern.
"Today's joint advisory provides decisive, actionable directions from the global security community." – Jonathon Ellison, NCSC Director of National Resilience.
Sources: NCSC, DESNZ, Ofgem
Wednesday 29/07 – AI Infrastructure Driving Demand for Electricity Connections
Ofgem launched a consultation aimed at tackling speculative data centre projects occupying capacity in Britain's electricity connections queue. The regulator reported that connection applications increased from 41GW to 125GW between November 2024 and June 2025, with data centre developments accounting for at least 73GW of demand.
The proposals include a commitment fee of between £237,500 and £712,500 per MW, intended to discourage speculative developments while ensuring that viable projects gain access to network capacity more quickly. National media coverage highlighted the growing relationship between artificial intelligence investment and electricity demand, with data centres becoming one of the fastest-growing sources of future network demand.
Industry body techUK welcomed efforts to remove speculative projects while emphasising the need to maintain the UK's competitiveness for digital investment.
"Britain is in a global race to attract investment into our compute infrastructure." – Matt Evans, techUK.
Sources: Ofgem, Reuters, City AM, techUK
Thursday 30/07 – Wholesale Energy Markets Remain Focused on Winter Security
Energy market analysis published during the week highlighted continuing concerns around winter gas supply and European storage levels. Market participants remain focused on global LNG supplies, geopolitical developments and storage refill rates ahead of the 2026/27 heating season.
The discussion remains particularly relevant following the introduction of Ofgem's July energy price cap, which increased by 13% for a typical household compared with the previous quarter. Whilst current market conditions remain significantly more stable than during the energy crisis of 2022, wholesale prices continue to be influenced by international developments.
For suppliers and procurement teams, managing exposure to market volatility remains a key commercial priority as businesses prepare for winter demand.
Sources: Ofgem, Energy Market Analysts
Friday 31/07 – Government Continues Push for Consumer Energy Flexibility
DESNZ, Ofgem and NESO continued work on delivering the Clean Flexibility Roadmap, setting out how flexibility services can help support a more efficient and lower-cost electricity system. The roadmap update highlighted the potential for an eight-fold increase in flexibility capacity between 2024 and 2050 as the UK transitions towards a cleaner and more decentralised energy system.
The update also referenced the Government's £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, which aims to support technologies including solar energy, batteries and heat pumps whilst upgrading up to 5 million homes by 2030. Such initiatives are expected to increase customer participation in flexibility services and encourage greater adoption of smart energy technologies.
For suppliers, flexibility markets continue to present opportunities to develop new tariffs, demand-management services and customer engagement initiatives.
Sources: DESNZ, Ofgem, NESO
Why This Matters for Utility Suppliers
Several clear themes emerged during the week:
• AI and data-centre growth is becoming a significant driver of future electricity demand and network investment decisions.
• Cyber security is increasingly being treated as a business resilience issue rather than solely an IT responsibility.
• Improved industry data sharing will support more effective network and infrastructure planning.
• Wholesale market uncertainty remains a key consideration for commercial and procurement teams.
• Consumer flexibility and smart energy technologies continue to move from policy ambition towards operational delivery.
Weekly Roundup Summary
This week's most significant story was the growing interaction between digital infrastructure and the energy sector. The rapid expansion of AI-driven data centre projects is now influencing electricity network planning, regulatory policy and future investment priorities. Ofgem's consultation demonstrated the scale of this challenge, with connection demand having increased from 41GW to 125GW in less than a year.
Alongside this, cyber resilience remained firmly on the industry agenda as the NCSC and international partners warned critical infrastructure operators about evolving cyber threats.The energy sector's increasing digitalisation means resilience, data security and operational continuity are becoming ever more important.
Meanwhile, progress continued on improving electricity network planning, market flexibility and customer participation in the energy transition, further demonstrating how technology, infrastructure and operational performance are becoming closely linked across the utility sector.
Monday 20/07 – Ofgem Launches New Data Governance and Digitalisation Consultations
Ofgem opened a series of consultations focused on energy sector digitalisation, including proposals relating to data best practice and the emerging Data Domain Coordinator role. The work forms part of the regulator's broader programme to improve the consistency, accessibility and governance of energy data across the industry.
As energy suppliers continue preparations for Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) and wider market reform initiatives, the quality and governance of industry data is becoming increasingly important. Consistent data standards will help support more accurate settlement, improve interoperability between industry systems and enable greater automation across supplier operations.
For utility suppliers, distribution businesses and service providers, the proposals highlight the growing regulatory expectation that data should be managed as a strategic industry asset rather than simply an operational requirement.
“Data best practice remains fundamental to the success of energy market digitalisation.” – Ofgem.
Sources: Ofgem.
Tuesday 21/07 – DESNZ Reviews Capacity Market Arrangements for Future Security of Supply
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) published correspondence relating to Capacity Market auction parameters, providing further clarity around future market arrangements and security of supply planning.
The Capacity Market remains a critical mechanism for ensuring sufficient generation and flexibility resources are available to meet future electricity demand. As renewable generation continues to increase across the system, forecasting, capacity adequacy and market participation remain key areas of focus for policymakers and market operators.
For electricity suppliers and market participants, Capacity Market developments continue to influence wholesale market dynamics, risk management activities and long-term procurement strategies.
Sources: DESNZ, NESO.
Wednesday 22/07 – MHHS Programme Reaches 50% Migration Milestone
The MHHS Programme reported that approximately 50% of all industry Meter Point Administration Numbers (MPANs) have now successfully migrated to Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement arrangements.
The milestone represents a significant achievement for one of the largest market reform programmes undertaken since electricity market liberalisation. The programme is transforming industry settlement processes by enabling suppliers to settle consumption using actual half-hourly data rather than profile-based estimates.
Alongside the migration update, programme governance groups continued work on readiness assessments, migration pathways and settlement-monitoring activities to support the next phases of implementation.
For suppliers, the continued rollout is driving investment in billing systems, customer information platforms, forecasting capabilities, settlement operations and industry data management.
Sources: MHHS Programme, Elexon.
Thursday 23/07 – Elexon Highlights Continued Progress Across Industry Settlement Reform
Elexon published further updates supporting the ongoing transition to MHHS, including migration reporting, settlement monitoring and implementation governance activities.
The organisation continues to coordinate activity across more than 250 market participants involved in delivering the MHHS target operating model. The scale of industry engagement reflects the complexity of transitioning an entire market from legacy settlement processes to a fully half-hourly model.
Elexon has consistently highlighted the benefits expected from MHHS, including improved settlement accuracy, enhanced support for flexibility markets and greater opportunities for innovative retail propositions based on actual consumption patterns.
For settlement managers, revenue assurance teams and technology leaders, the continued emphasis on operational readiness reinforces the importance of maintaining programme momentum during the final migration phases.
Sources: Elexon, MHHS Programme
Friday 24/07 – Clean Flexibility Roadmap Update Signals Growth in Consumer Flexibility Markets
DESNZ, Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) reported progress against the UK's Clean Flexibility Roadmap, outlining actions to accelerate flexibility participation across the electricity system.
The latest update noted that NESO modelling indicates potential for an eight-fold increase in flexibility capacity between 2024 and 2050. The roadmap also confirmed continued collaboration between Government, regulators and industry to expand participation in demand-side response, storage and flexibility services.
Increasing flexibility is expected to play a significant role in reducing balancing costs, improving network utilisation and supporting more efficient market operation. Suppliers are expected to play a key role in enabling customer participation through smart tariffs, advanced metering and digital customer engagement platforms.
For utility organisations, flexibility is increasingly transitioning from an innovation programme to a core operational capability that will influence future product development, revenue models and customer service strategies.
“Businesses and households alike will benefit from a more predictable and affordable energy landscape.” – DESNZ Clean Flexibility Roadmap Update.
Sources: DESNZ, Ofgem, NESO.
Weekly Roundup Summary
This week was dominated by developments relating to energy market digitalisation, industry data governance and the continued rollout of Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement. Ofgem's new consultations demonstrate the increasing regulatory focus on data quality and governance, while DESNZ continued work to support future security of supply through Capacity Market arrangements.
The standout industry development was the MHHS Programme achieving the significant milestone of 50% of industry MPANs migrated, signalling continued progress towards full half-hourly settlement implementation. Elexon's parallel work on settlement monitoring and migration governance highlights the scale of industry coordination still required.
Looking ahead, utility suppliers should continue to focus on MHHS readiness, investment in customer and settlement systems, data governance frameworks and flexibility-market participation. Emerging risks remain centred on programme delivery, operational readiness and the growing dependence on high-quality market data. At the same time, opportunities continue to emerge through flexibility services, smarter tariff structures and more accurate settlement processes.
Monday 13/07 – Clean Flexibility Roadmap Progress Published
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) published their latest update on the UK's Clean Flexibility Roadmap, highlighting progress towards a more flexible, data-driven electricity system.
The update noted that more than 11.3 million smart meters had been migrated to Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) arrangements by mid-June 2026, with around one-third of Britain's electricity meters now operating under the new framework.
“Businesses and households alike will benefit from a more predictable and affordable energy landscape.” – Clean Flexibility Roadmap Update.
For energy suppliers and market participants, the continued rollout of flexibility services and half-hourly settlement remains one of the most significant structural changes impacting the UK electricity market.
Sources: DESNZ, Ofgem, NESO
Tuesday 14/07 – MHHS Programme Migration Continues
The MHHS Programme, facilitated by Elexon, continues to make progress towards industry-wide migration to Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement. Recent programme updates confirm the migration phase remains a major focus for suppliers and industry participants as the sector transitions away from traditional settlement arrangements.
The programme is designed to enable suppliers to settle electricity consumption using actual half-hourly consumption data rather than estimates, improving industry accuracy and supporting the development of innovative tariffs and flexibility services.
“The MHHS Programme will contribute to a more cost-effective electricity system, encouraging more flexible use of energy and helping consumers lower their bills.” – MHHS Programme.
For suppliers, this transformation continues to drive investment in metering, billing, forecasting and data management platforms.
Sources: Elexon, MHHS Programme
Wednesday 15/07 – Sizewell C Delivers Economic Milestones
The UK Government provided its annual update on the Sizewell C nuclear project, highlighting the strategic importance of new nuclear generation in delivering long-term energy security and supporting economic growth.
According to the project update:
- More than 2,000 people are now working on-site each day.
- Over £4.89 billion has been spent with more than 1,000 UK suppliers.
- 120 apprenticeships have already been created.
- The project plans to deliver 1,500 apprenticeships during construction.
The continued development of nuclear infrastructure remains a key component of the Government's broader energy security strategy alongside renewable energy and flexibility investments.
Sources: DESNZ, UK Parliament, Sizewell C
Thursday 16/07 – Clean Energy Investment and Decarbonisation Remain Priorities
The publication of the annual report from DESNZ coincided with broader industry discussions around the pace of decarbonisation, infrastructure investment and energy system modernisation.
Government announcements earlier in the year confirmed that the UK has secured £100 billion of private clean energy investment, reflecting continued confidence in the country's energy transition and supporting long-term energy security objectives.
The focus remains on accelerating investment across renewable generation, energy storage, grid modernisation and low-carbon infrastructure while maintaining affordability and resilience.
Sources: DESNZ
Friday 17/07 – Flexibility Markets Move Further Towards Delivery
Industry attention remained focused on consumer-led flexibility, storage and market reform as stakeholders reviewed the latest roadmap actions from DESNZ, Ofgem and NESO.
Key statistics highlighted during the week included:
- 170MW of industrial and commercial flexibility capacity has already been delivered against NESO's longer-term flexibility ambitions.
- UK grid-scale battery storage reached approximately 7.5GW of installed capacity.
- Ofgem-supported long-duration storage proposals represent 7.6GW of power capacity across 16 projects.
“We could see an eight-fold increase in clean flexibility capacity from 2024 to 2050.” – DESNZ, Ofgem and NESO Clean Flexibility Roadmap Update.
For energy suppliers and system operators, the transition from policy planning to operational delivery continues to accelerate.
Sources: DESNZ, Ofgem, NESO, Elexon
Weekly Roundup Summary
Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) migration continues at pace across the industry, with more than 11.3 million smart meters now operating under the new settlement arrangements. This remains one of the most significant market reforms undertaken by the UK electricity industry in recent years.
Investment in energy flexibility and storage continues to grow, with UK grid-scale battery capacity now reaching approximately 7.5GW and proposed long-duration storage projects representing a further 7.6GW of capacity.
Government support for clean energy infrastructure remained evident through continued investment in nuclear power, renewable energy and the wider transition to a net zero energy system. The Sizewell C programme alone has now spent £4.89 billion with more than 1,000 UK suppliers, demonstrating the broader economic benefits of energy infrastructure investment.
As the sector moves further towards data-driven operations, flexibility markets and consumer participation, organisations across the energy supply chain will continue to rely on accurate data, robust market systems and modern technology platforms to support future growth and regulatory compliance.
Monday 06/07 – Sustainability Reporting Continues to Rise Up the Board Agenda
Organisations across both the public and private sectors continue to strengthen their sustainability reporting capabilities as regulatory expectations and stakeholder scrutiny increase. The demand for auditable ESG and carbon data remains a key focus, with businesses investing in improved data quality, governance and reporting processes.
According to research from the accounting and sustainability sectors, investors increasingly view high-quality sustainability reporting as an indicator of organisational resilience and long-term value creation. This trend continues to drive investment in reporting platforms and integrated data management solutions.
Sources: International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), UK Sustainability Disclosure developments, sustainability reporting market activity.
Tuesday 07/07 – Smart Energy and Data-Driven Networks Continue to Expand
The UK's transition towards a more digital and flexible energy system remains a major industry priority. Energy suppliers, network operators and technology providers continue to increase investment in smart infrastructure capable of supporting greater renewable generation and more dynamic consumer participation.
Industry observers highlighted the growing role of half-hourly settlement and smart meter data in improving network efficiency and enabling more innovative tariff structures.
As reported by the UK Government, flexibility is expected to play a central role in delivering a decarbonised electricity system, with modelling suggesting an eight-fold increase in flexibility capacity between 2024 and 2050.
"Businesses and households alike will benefit from a more predictable and affordable energy landscape." – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Wednesday 08/07 – Nuclear Generation Receives Long-Term Vote of Confidence
The UK Government announced that the Sizewell B nuclear power station has been granted a lifetime extension to 2055, reinforcing the role nuclear generation is expected to play in supporting the country's energy security objectives.
The decision provides additional certainty for long-term generation capacity while complementing investment in renewable energy and grid modernisation.
Commenting on the wider clean energy transition, DESNZ recently confirmed that the Government has secured over £100 billion of private clean energy investment, highlighting continued confidence in the UK's energy transformation programme.
Thursday 09/07 – Energy Costs Return to the Headlines
Energy prices remained a key topic of discussion following the implementation of the latest Ofgem energy price cap on 1 July. The revised cap increased the typical annual dual-fuel household bill to approximately £1,862 per year, representing a rise of around 13% (£221 annually) compared with the previous quarter. Industry analysts noted that wholesale gas prices continue to have a significant influence on market pricing.
Ofgem Chief Executive Tim Jarvis stated: "Today's price change reflects continued volatility in global energy markets."
The announcement has renewed focus on energy efficiency, demand reduction and the adoption of smart tariffs.
Friday 10/07 – Flexibility and Energy Storage Remain Strategic Priorities
Energy flexibility, battery storage and demand-side management continued to dominate industry discussion as policymakers and market participants prepare for a more decentralised energy system.
Recent updates from DESNZ, Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) highlighted significant progress in flexibility markets and storage deployment across Great Britain.
Notable statistics include:
• More than 11.3 million smart meters transitioned to Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement by mid-2026.
• UK grid-scale battery storage capacity reached approximately 7.5GW. [energylivenews.com]
• Ofgem has backed proposals supporting 7.6GW of long-duration electricity storage across 16 projects.
These developments underline the increasing importance of data, automation and operational flexibility in delivering a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future.
Weekly Roundup Summary
The week was characterised by five major themes:
- The continued maturation of sustainability and ESG reporting.
- Growing adoption of data-driven energy management technologies.
- Long-term investment in UK energy security through nuclear and clean energy infrastructure.
- Continued market attention on energy affordability following the July price cap increase.
- Increasing focus on flexibility services, battery storage and smart energy systems.
For energy suppliers, utilities and large energy consumers, these developments reinforce the importance of modern data platforms, robust reporting capabilities and flexible operational systems capable of supporting an increasingly digital and decarbonised energy market.
Wednesday 01/07 – Sustainability Reporting Requirements Continue to Evolve
Environmental reporting and carbon disclosure remained high on the corporate agenda as organisations prepared for evolving sustainability expectations from regulators, investors and customers. Businesses are increasingly seeking greater accuracy, transparency and auditability within their environmental reporting processes.
Thursday 02/07 – Grid Modernisation and Energy Flexibility Gain Momentum
Industry attention remained focused on electricity network modernisation and the growing role of flexibility services. Market participants continue to explore new opportunities to support grid resilience through demand management, distributed generation and emerging smart energy technologies.
Friday 03/07 – Technology and Cyber Security Remain Strategic Priorities
The importance of cyber resilience, operational security and modern technology platforms continued to be emphasised across critical national infrastructure sectors. Organisations are increasingly reviewing their technology strategies to improve resilience, support regulatory compliance and enable future digital transformation initiatives.
Weekly Roundup Summary
This week saw continued focus on energy market reform, digital transformation, sustainability reporting, grid flexibility and cyber resilience. Together, these themes reinforce the industry's ongoing transition towards a more data-driven, secure and sustainable energy future.
Written By Graham Paul
