§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the regulator to discuss investment criteria in the electricity transmission sector.[115819]
§ Mr. TimmsMy ministerial colleagues and I and departmental officials have regular discussions with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) on a range of issues, including the electricity transmission sector.
The Transmission Issues Working Group, on which DTI and Ofgem officials sit with transmission licensees, was set up to look at the issues surrounding connecting up to 12 GW of new renewable generation to the existing transmission system and has recently reported on the costs entailed. It continues to monitor the progress of work recently started by the Scottish Transmission Owners.
In addition, the Government continue to engage with Ofgem and industry on matters relating to the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements (BETTA). This includes ensuring that the arrangements under a GB market will provide fertile conditions for new investment in renewables generation, a key lynchpin of our objectives outlined in the Energy White Paper.