Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to support network operators to adopt a predictive, data-led and technology-enabled energy network.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In March 2026, government and Ofgem published the Energy Digitalisation Framework to provide strategic direction for energy sector digitalisation. The Framework introduced a data domain model to improve data quality and standardisation across key areas, including system and network operation.
It also established the concept of a Digitalisation Coordination Function to support common standards, architectural coherence and cross-sector alignment. The Department plans to consult on the Function’s design later this year.
Government are taking steps to improve visibility of low carbon technology assets on the distribution network, including through an industry group and new primary legislation when parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen incentives for long‑term investment in network resilience in rural and storm‑impacted areas.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Maintaining the resilience of the energy system is one of Government’s top priorities. We work with industry and Ofgem to ensure that sufficient investment is made into rural power networks, but also that support is provided when power cuts do occur.
The independent regulator, Ofgem, regulates Distribution Network Operators through a price control process. This includes incentives to reduce the frequency and duration of power interruptions, no matter the cause, and to invest in and maintain infrastructure to guarantee minimum standards of service.
Following the Storm Arwen Review, operators have made significant improvements to system resilience during severe weather events.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the forthcoming Energy Resilience Strategy will reinforce the need for a more predictive, data‑led and technology‑enabled energy network.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The upcoming Energy Resilience Strategy will seize the once in a generation opportunity presented by the clean energy transition to build a stronger, more resilient energy system.
It would be inappropriate to pre-empt the content of the Strategy at this time, however I can confirm the Strategy will set out Government's strategic priorities for a secure and resilient system, now and in the future and our approach to its delivery, working with industry, the system operator, the regulator and wider society.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what was the average duration of an unplanned power outage in each Distribution Network Operator area in each of the last five years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK has a highly resilient energy network, and industry works to continuously minimise the risk and impacts of unplanned outages.
All DNOs are regulated by the independent regulator, Ofgem, and must report their performance against annual targets to Ofgem each year. The outcomes of these reports are published on Ofgem’s website: RIIO-2 Electricity Distribution: annual report 2024 to 2025 | Ofgem
Ofgem’s most recent RIIO-2 Electricity Distribution report found that most companies improved their customer disruption scores between 2024 and 2025.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many unplanned power outages occurred in each of the last five years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK has a highly resilient energy network, and industry works to continuously minimise the risk and impacts of unplanned outages.
All DNOs are regulated by the independent regulator, Ofgem, and must report their performance against annual targets to Ofgem each year. The outcomes of these reports are published on Ofgem’s website: RIIO-2 Electricity Distribution: annual report 2024 to 2025 | Ofgem
Ofgem’s most recent RIIO-2 Electricity Distribution report found that most companies improved their customer disruption scores between 2024 and 2025.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic properties which use (a) oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas for heating purposes by parliamentary constituency.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department does not produce bespoke estimates of the number of domestic properties using oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for heating by parliamentary constituency. Information on the heating fuels used by households is published by the Office for National Statistics and the devolved administrations.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department is providing to individuals who live off grid and who are on low incomes who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Warm Homes Discount.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Thanks to decisions in the recent Budget, an average of £150 of costs will be removed from household energy bills from April. The actions at budget also make electricity cheaper, meaning everyone will benefit and the transfer of the Renewables Obligation to public expenditure is a significant step towards rebalancing levies away from electricity.
What individual households actually save will depend on their specific energy use. Households with bigger electricity bills could save more than £150.
In addition, the Budget significantly increased the capital budget for home insulation through the Warm Homes Plan by £1.5bn to almost £15bn. This is the biggest public investment ever to upgrade homes with insulation and clean tech like solar panels and heat pumps.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help support the owners of (a) short and (b) long term holiday lets to improve the energy efficiency rating of their properties in Wales.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. We will partner with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out this plan.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants to property owners, including holiday lets, to enable them to transition away from fossil fuel to low carbon heating.
Advice for energy efficiency support in Wales is available at: https://www.gov.wales/home-energy-fuel-poverty
Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to protect consumers from the impact of the recent increase in the energy price cap; and whether his Department plans to take steps to ensure that utility companies reflect falls in wholesale prices in consumer energy costs.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The energy price cap will rise for the period 1 April to 30 June 2025 due to an increase in international gas prices.
The Government believes the only way to protect consumers permanently is to speed up the transition towards homegrown clean energy. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
We continue to monitor energy prices and the price cap and are working to ensure bills are affordable for consumers in the long-term, including through our work with Ofgem to reform standing charges, and through our Warm Homes Plan which will upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with the Mineworkers Pension Scheme Trustees on potential reforms to the Mineworkers Pensions Scheme.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK