BEAMA CEO Yselkla Farmer has welcomed DESNZ’s consultation on issuing guidance to Ofgem on supporting electricity networks to enable growth.
The guidance would require Ofgem to give greater consideration to how their regulation enables procurement approaches that strengthen domestic capability and drive social value.
Yselkla Farmer, CEO of BEAMA said:
“It’s incredibly welcome that DESNZ is consulting on directing Ofgem to take a more proactive role in promoting growth. BEAMA’s members have been clear that Ofgem’s regulatory approach is holding their businesses back – and government has heard that message.
Ofgem has failed to take the supply chain into account. This has led to procurement approaches across the sector that make it difficult for manufacturers to plan their capacity or underpin business cases for necessary expansion. This leads to longer lead times and undermines supply chain resilience.
We’ve been clear that action is needed across the sector to support UK manufacturers, including through our work with network companies and government on the Electricity Networks Sector Growth Plan.
Ofgem’s regulatory approach is a critical piece of the puzzle, essential to maintaining a resilient, competitive supply chain that can meet the needs of an expanding electricity network.”
Notes:
BEAMA is the UK manufacturing trade association for the electrotechnical sector, representing companies that design, manufacture and supply the energy infrastructure and systems critical to the UK’s Net Zero and energy security ambitions.
BEAMA’s Electricity Networks Infrastructure (ENI) group is the voice of Britain’s grid technology providers. The scope covers manufacturers and suppliers of electrical network equipment, services and digital solutions at all levels, supplying to both the regulated network companies and private markets. Member companies supply products and services including transformers, switchgear, protection and control, High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and automation.
The consultation links closely to the Energy Networks Sector Growth Plan, a joint project between BEAMA and the Energy Networks Association, supported by government, which will provide new analysis on the scale of the economic opportunity from grid investment and create a joint, long term work programme to ensure UK businesses and communities can fully benefit from both the wider transition and specific impacts, including new jobs and supply chain opportunities.