Morning, Monday, 26th January 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for electricity market reform in the UK, following the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements summer update which confirmed retention of a national wholesale pricing model and outlined ways forward for a reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess progress and priorities moving forward as the National Energy System Operator refines its strategic system planning framework and Ofgem advances proposals for transmission and Balancing Mechanism reform. It will also be an opportunity to review ongoing work towards the National Pricing Delivery Plan and its coordination with Clean Power 2030 objectives.
Policy developments & implications
Sessions will consider the direction of policy, including priorities for the Capacity Market and balancing reform, and alignment with the next Contracts for Difference allocation round, as well as ongoing work under NESO’s Constraints Collaboration Project to address network congestion and reduce related costs.
Areas for discussion include implications for investment, system flexibility, and the wider economic and regional context, including long-term value for consumers.
Further sessions will assess priorities for investment frameworks in order to support infrastructure delivery. Delegates will consider Ofgem’s draft determinations for RIIO-3, and NESO’s forecast of TNUoS tariffs, addressing concerns regarding potential costs for consumers and impact on public trust.
Planning, infrastructure & consumer impactDelegates will examine key issues emerging from the consultation on draft guidance for the forthcoming Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, Centralised Strategic Network Plan and Regional Energy Strategic Plans.
Areas for discussion include integration of local energy plans with national and regional networks, coordination of generation with demand and storage, approaches to strengthening public engagement, and implications for infrastructure placement and delivery timelines. Discussion will consider how market reforms and energy planning can be aligned to support the Industrial Strategy and Infrastructure Strategy goals for a low carbon, flexible energy system.
The agenda will look at differences in network costs across regions and options for updating price signals to better reflect regional differences and needs. Approaches to managing impact for consumers and the system as a whole will be discussed, and what these factors might mean for rollout of low-carbon technologies and storage, as well as ways to encourage projects where they are most needed while keeping competition strong, including the use of location-based charges and incentives.
Collaboration & long-term efficiency
Looking at capacity market reform, discussion will focus on how new measures - such as termination fees for demand-side response - might affect participation and investment signals. Attendees will consider opportunities for energy flexibility providers in the Capacity Market, following balancing and settlement reforms, including small-scale consumer-led assets and independent aggregators.
Further sessions consider potential implementation of digital grid management tools, data-sharing systems, and frameworks for closer coordination between local authorities and regulators, to improve efficiency and support longer-term system development.
Overview of areas for discussion
- market reform strategy: progress on REMA, system planning, and charging reform - interaction between pricing and CfD timelines - impact on investor confidence
- capacity and balancing reform: revised arrangements for flexibility and dispatchable assets - signals for investment and coordination - links to wider reform activity
- planning coordination: alignment of local, regional, national energy plans and NPSs - planning body responsibilities - reducing grid congestion and bottlenecks - responding to emerging policy
- regional infrastructure outcomes: incentives for efficient network development - effects of constraint and access reform - regional variation in cost and service
- flexibility and storage: barriers to deployment and connection - role in meeting system needs - commercial risks and signals - future of the Constraints Collaboration Project
- public and community involvement: expectations for engagement in planning - effects on timelines and consent - responsibilities for communication
- capacity market design: role of new measures, including termination fees - routes for clean capacity participation - implications for reliability
- system-level coordination: collaboration between regulators, NESO, and local authorities - use of digital tools and data - risks of fragmentation or duplication
- policy and regulatory delivery: readiness for implementation and change - capacity of delivery bodies - approaches to sequencing and review
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department for Business and Trade; Department for the Economy, NI; Department of Climate, Energy and Environment, ROI; Ofwat; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
