Key facts

• To support the development of strategic energy planning across the nations and regions, NESO is reaching out to local, regional and national customers and stakeholders to support the creation of the methodology that will underpin future Regional Energy
• NESO will deliver 11 future Regional Energy Strategic Plans covering, Scotland, Wales and 9 regions across England, to help ensure local areas get the energy infrastructure they need to support economic growth and the delivery of local priority projects
• The methodology consultation runs from 17 November 2025 and closes on 16 January 2026

This week Great Britain’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) announced a new consultation to support the delivery of the first ever strategic ever Regional Energy Strategic Plans across every nation and region of Great Britain. 

Running from 17 November 2025 to 16 January 2026, this methodology consultation seeks responses from customers and stakeholders across Great Britain on how future Regional Energy Strategic Plans should be developed. 

For the first time ever in Great Britain, NESO will engage with local customers and stakeholders to understand the key priorities and needs within the nations and regions. NESO will deliver 11 Regional Energy Strategic Plans in total, one for Scotland, one for Wales, and in each of nine English regions to support and accelerate the transformation of the electricity and gas distribution networks across Great Britain , to help achieve local ambitions for economic growth and sustainability.

Regional Energy Strategic Plans will form part of NESOs wider whole-system strategic energy planning for Great Britain. These plans will set out what energy infrastructure is needed to meet growing consumer demands, and where and when it needs to be delivered. Strategic energy planning will be key to supporting future economic growth, delivering a secure energy system and paving the way to a sustainable energy future for every community across England, Scotland and Wales. 

The final methodology for the creation of Regional Energy Strategic Plans will be published in Summer 2026, after approval from Ofgem and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Once approved NESO will work with local authorities, energy distribution networks, consumer groups and other stakeholders to deliver the first set of Regional Energy Strategic Plans for Scotland, Wales and nine English regions.

Julian Leslie, Director of Strategic Energy Planning and Chief Engineer at NESO:
“To achieve the ambitions of every part of Great Britain and make the right choices to meet our future energy needs, we need regional energy strategic plans that can reflect local priorities across every nation and region.

Establishing a robust methodology for this first set of eleven plans is critical to ensuring that we keep local voices central to how we strategically plan the future energy system. The Regional Energy Strategic Plans will play a key role in helping to establish a secure, affordable and clean energy system, one that underpins economic growth and sustainability in communities across Great Britain.”

KeyFacts Energy News: Energy Transition