Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to plan a (a) risk assessment and (b) contingency plan on the National Grid to prevent national-level blackouts.

Great Britain has a highly resilient energy system, and a total failure of power is assessed in the National Risk Register as a high impact but low likelihood event. In its 75-year history, the National Electricity Transmission System has never experienced a complete shutdown.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has a range of tools to keep electricity balanced under a range of scenarios and to guard against system-wide failures. However, Government prepares for all eventualities and exercises robust contingency plans with industry, including NESO’s established plans to restore the energy system in the event of a National Power Outage.