Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of the cost of electricity-network reinforcement required to connect new data centres will be met by (a) data-centre developers, (b) network operators and (c) electricity consumers; and whether the Department will publish an estimate of the total network investment attributable to projected data-centre demand .

The independent energy regulator, Ofgem, is responsible for the connections charging framework and the allocation of charges between developers, network operators, and consumers. Government is not tracking the network reinforcement cost data associated specifically with new data centres.

However, the department recently consulted on measures to manage the volume of data centres connecting to the electricity network, to secure capacity for vital data infrastructure in a way that minimises impacts on the energy system. A response will be published in due course.