Direction to NESO: CSNP Submission by September 2028, Publication by December 2028
Summary
Ofgem has issued a Direction to the National Energy System Operator (NESO) requiring submission of the first Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP) by 15 September 2028 and publication by 15 December 2028. The original deadlines were 30 June 2027 for submission and 31 December 2027 for publication. Ofgem granted NESO's requested derogations from its ESO and GSO licences to allow these revised timelines, citing the need to align with the recently revised Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) timeline.
What changed
Ofgem issued a Direction on 15 April 2026 granting NESO derogations from its ESO and GSO licences to extend the CSNP submission deadline from 30 June 2027 to 15 September 2028 and the publication deadline from 31 December 2027 to 15 December 2028. The rationale is to align with the revised SSEP timeline, allow adequate time for stakeholder input, enable sufficient development of network options, and provide sufficient time for analysis.
Affected parties including network developers, energy companies, and investors should note the extended timeline provides greater certainty on long-term network needs and allows more time for engagement in the planning process. The Direction is a binding regulatory action under Ofgem's statutory authority, and NESO must comply with the revised dates.
What to do next
- Monitor revised CSNP timeline and align network planning activities accordingly
- Prepare stakeholder input for the delayed CSNP development process
- Track SSEP timeline for interdependencies with network planning
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Direction to NESO on CSNP publication timing
Publication type: Decision Publication date:
15 April 2026
Topic: Electricity transmission Print this page
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- Direction to National Energy System Operator (NESO) to submit the first Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP) to Ofgem by 15 September 2028 and publish the first CSNP by 15 December 2028.
National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP) will provide an independent, coordinated, and long-term plan for electricity, natural gas, and hydrogen transport and storage networks across Great Britain. The CSNP will use the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) as a core input to plan the networks required over the next 25 years. The first CSNP is due to be published by NESO by December 2027.
We have decided to align the timeline by which the CSNP will be produced, with the recently revised timeline of the SSEP. This will allow for timely and adequate stakeholder input, ensure adequate time for the development of network options, provide sufficient time for analysis to be carried out, and provide certainty on long-term network needs.
NESO sent a letter to Ofgem on 23 March 2026 to request derogations from its Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Gas System Operation (GSO) licences to allow it to submit the CSNP to Ofgem for approval by 15 September 2028, instead of 30 June 2027, and publish the CSNP by 15 December 2028, instead of 31 December 2027. We have decided to allow these changes due to the reasons above.
Documents
Direction to NESO on CSNP publication timing [PDF, 179.58KB] NESO CSNP direction request letter [PDF, 306.42KB] Print this page
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