Electricity Network Connections (Designated Strategic Plans) Regulations 2026

UK New Legislation

Published March 30th, 2026

Detected March 10th, 2026

Summary

The UK Secretary of State has designated the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan as a strategic plan under the Energy Act 2023. These regulations, effective March 30, 2026, require the Independent System Operator and Planner (ISOP) and electricity distributors to have regard to this plan when making decisions on network connections.

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What changed

The Electricity Network Connections (Designated Strategic Plans) Regulations 2026 officially designate the "Clean Power 2030 Action Plan" as a strategic plan under section 165A(2) of the Energy Act 2023. This designation mandates that the Independent System Operator and Planner (ISOP) and electricity distributors must consider this plan when performing functions related to network connections, including prioritizing connection requests and exempting distributors from connection duties if they conflict with the designated plan.

Energy companies, specifically electricity distributors and the ISOP, must now integrate the "Clean Power 2030 Action Plan" into their decision-making processes for network connections. While no specific compliance deadline is provided beyond the effective date of March 30, 2026, non-compliance could lead to regulatory scrutiny or challenges, as distributors are exempt from connection duties if they do not adhere to designated strategic plans. The regulations extend to England, Wales, and Scotland.

What to do next

Review the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan for relevance to network connection decisions.
Update internal policies and procedures to ensure ISOP and electricity distributor functions have regard to the designated strategic plan.
Document considerations of the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan in network connection decision-making.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 223

ELECTRICITY

The Electricity Network Connections (Designated Strategic Plans) Regulations 2026

Made

4th March 2026

Laid before Parliament

9th March 2026

Coming into force

30th March 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 165A(2) of the Energy Act 2023(1).

Citation, commencement and extent

—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Electricity Network Connections (Designated Strategic Plans) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 30th March 2026.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

Designated Plan

The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan(2), published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, is designated in accordance with section 165A(2) of the Energy Act 2023.

Michael Shanks

Minister for Energy

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

4th March 2026

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Under section 165A(1) of the Energy Act 2023 (“ the 2023 Act ”) the Independent System Operator and Planner (“ ISOP ”) must have regard to those plans or documents designated as strategic plans under section 165A(2) (“designated strategic plans”) when carrying out functions relating to network connections. The Secretary of State by notice designated the National Energy System Operator Limited as the ISOP with effect from 1st October 2024.

Under section 16(2A) of the Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29) (the “ 1989 Act ”) when deciding how to comply with their duties under that section, and in particular in deciding how to prioritise persons requiring a connection, electricity distributors must have regard to designated strategic plans.

Under section 17 of the 1989 Act, electricity distributors are exempt from the duty to connect where this would not be in accordance with the designated strategic plans.

Regulation 2 designates the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan as a designated strategic plan. The plan, which sets out a pathway to a clean power system by 2030, was published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and comprises a main report and three annexes.

The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan has been produced in digital form only, however alternative, accessible formats can be obtained from alt.formats@energysecurity.gov.uk.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or business sectors is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside these Regulations on www.legislation.gov.uk.

(1) 2023 c. 52; section 165A was inserted by section 17 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34).

(2) The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan comprises four component parts: (1) Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity - main report, and (2) Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity – technical annex, both published on 13th December 2024; (3) Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity – connections reform annex (updated April 2025), published on 7th April 2025, and (4) Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity - assessment of the clean energy skills challenge - evidence annex, published on 13th December 2024 and updated on 25th March 2025 with an added Welsh translation. The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan can be obtained at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-power-2030-action-plan.