Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of applying the same land access arrangements for distribution network operators as currently apply for other utilities.

DESNZ published a consultation on consents, land access and rights for electricity network infrastructure on 8 July. It sets out a package of reforms intended to reduce delays to essential works and support the upgrade and maintenance of electricity infrastructure. The proposals include clarifying access rights for both distribution and transmission operators, ensuring they have appropriate powers to access land, including adjacent third-party land, and aligning rights for distribution network operators to install infrastructure in private streets with other utilities, such as telecoms.