Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that the energy needs of data centres do not adversely impact the energy supply for new or existing homes.

The Government is working with Ofgem, network companies and connection stakeholders to improve connection processes, embed best practice and release network capacity. This will help ensure the timely connection of new housing developments to the network. In addition, Ofgem's price control funds investment in the network for new connections, including housing developments. As part of the 2023-28 electricity distribution network price control, Ofgem will allow £3.1bn for network upgrades. The energy supply for existing homes is not impacted by new connections as distribution network operators only connect new projects once there is sufficient capacity to accommodate them.