Nick Winser has been appointed as the UK’s first Electricity Networks Commissioner, a vital new position that forms part of the British Energy Security Strategy and will ensure energy independence in Britain.
Today – 6 July 2022 – the British government has announced that Nick Winser CBE will become the UK’s first Electricity Networks Commissioner, in the most recent move to guarantee a long-term future of secure, clean and affordable domestically generated energy in Britain.
Achieving energy independence in Britain with domestically produced electricity
In early 2022, the government revealed its ambitious targets to enhance energy generation from clean technologies such as offshore wind and nuclear reactors. It is hoped that accelerating the UK’s domestic supply of energy will enable reduced energy bills for consumers and result in an increased energy independence in Britain.
However, reaching this milestone necessitates support from new network infrastructure. As Britain’s new Electricity Networks Commissioner, Winser will be in the position to facilitate the building of the required infrastructure, such as transmission lines and electricity poles. With this in place, domestically generated energy can flow into households across Britain.
As well as this, the new role includes massively decreasing the timeline for providing onshore transmission network infrastructure by approximately three years and developing recommendations to facilitate halving the end-to-end project process by the mid-2020s.
Winser has an extensive 30 years worth of experience in the electricity networks field and has already been advising the government and industry on energy policy. He is also the current Chairman of the Energy Systems Catapult.
This new appointment comes after recent announcements of Simon Bowen as Industry Advisor for Great British Nuclear, and Tim Pick as the government’s Offshore Wind Champion, both of which will further boost the UK energy mix for generations to come.
Developing electricity transmission infrastructure in Britain
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “I am delighted to appoint Nick Winser as the UK’s first Electricity Networks Commissioner.
“Nick will play a pivotal role in ensuring the right network infrastructure is in the right places to ensure households can benefit from our abundant supply of clean, affordable, home-grown energy.”
Newly appointed Electricity Networks Commissioner Nick Winser added: “Electricity networks are essential to transporting new low carbon power generation, such as that from offshore wind and nuclear, to where it is needed, in homes and businesses across the country, where it will be used more and more for new purposes like charging electric vehicles and heating households through heat pumps.
“I look forward to taking on this important new role where I can help accelerate the delivery of new electricity transmission infrastructure, helping to provide consumers with a secure, reliable, supply of green electricity, while keeping costs as low as possible.”
