UK government and Ofgem admit grid queue blunders

The UK government and Ofgem have admitted to blunders in handling the GB grid connection queue, according to Energy Live News. The concession is notable because it attributes fault at both the political and regulatory levels, rather than confining responsibility to National Grid ESO's queue management processes.

The GB connection queue has been a persistent constraint on new capacity. Thousands of projects (spanning solar, wind, and BESS) have faced multi-year delays, with many connection offers dated beyond 2030. Ofgem launched its Connections Action Plan in 2023 and the TMO4+ reforms followed, but the backlog has continued to draw criticism from developers and investors.

No specific figures on queue size, reformed timelines, or compensation mechanisms were attached to the admission in available reporting. The acknowledgement nonetheless raises the political stakes for the next phase of connection reform, particularly ahead of any legislative vehicle that could codify queue prioritisation rules.