IERN International Energy Regulation Network

The sector is privatised. Only some nuclear facilities remain in Government ownership.

The wholesale market is not characterised by high concentration levels as 8 companies own 70% of the market share. Some electricity is also imported to the UK from France.

The UK has a bilateral market with a balancing market administered by an independent operator (ELEXON). The market operates on a half day ahead gate closure on a dual cash out basis.

The sector is fully privatised.

National Grid Transco (NGT) is the independent, privately owned TSO. In Scotland transmission networks are owned and operated by Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy. Access to the transmission network is via regulated TPA.

The UK has 14 regional distributors who are privately owned. The distributors must be separately licensed from the generators and the suppliers. Access to the network is through regulated TPA.

The sector is privatised.

The retail market in the UK is fully open. Supply is competitive with over 15 electricity suppliers in the market.

Switching ratio in the UK is around 51% with almost all industrial and commercial customers having changed supplier at least once.

The sector is privatised.

The UK has significant domestic production of around 77% of annual needs. The remainder of the natural gas is imported from the continent, Norway and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.

Bilateral trading exists with a balancing markets in place.

The sector is privatised.

The UK operates on a national high pressure system owned by National Grid Transco (NGT). Regional gas distributors are privately owned.

Access to the network is gained through regulated TPA.

The sector is privatised.

The retail market in the UK is fully open. Supply is competitive with over 15 gas suppliers in the market.

Switching ratio in the UK is around 50% since market opening in 1998 and 54% of gas consumption is served by suppliers other than the incumbent.

The introduction of smart metering is being arranged throughout in the UK – meters that would enable householders to control their consumption and be more energy efficient.

A number of projects are under ways to increase natural gas import capacity. The main projects include, the increase of liquefied natural gas import: Petroplus (Dragon) Milford Haven and Qatar Petroleum/ Exxon Mobil (South Hook) Milford Haven development and several gas storages development i.e. Statoil/Scottish and Southern Energy project, Portland Gas Ltd etc.