Morning, Monday, 20th April 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for electricity market reform in the UK.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to consider the implementation of reformed pricing within the current wholesale market, as the Government and Ofgem conduct consultations on aspects of its delivery.
The discussion is timed to follow the expected publication of the Reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan, in response to the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements update last year, which is aiming to deliver a package of reforms across energy planning, network charging, and market operability. These include changes to how electricity pricing operates in practice and the system’s day to day operation, alongside reform to network charging and the coordination of longer-term system planning.
The agenda examines what will be needed from government, regulation and stakeholders to enable the delivery of an efficient, cost-effective, and clean electricity system. Areas for discussion include the alignment with Ofgem’s proposals for network charging and the Balancing Mechanism, coordination with NESO’s Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, advancing Capacity Market reform, and progressing towards Clean Power 2030 ambitions.
Market reform, spatial planning & network delivery
Sessions will consider the direction of policy and planning for the delivery of clean energy infrastructure, and implications for grid and infrastructure management. Delegates will examine alignment between market reform, strategic spatial plans - including the SSEP, Centralised Strategic Network Plan and Regional Energy Strategic Plan - and ongoing grid connection reform.
Discussion will assess the interaction of pricing and charging arrangements with infrastructure planning and network operation, including the coordination of generation with demand and storage, sequencing with grid connection reform and transmission capacity, and implications for siting decisions and delivery timelines, alongside concern from some regarding delays to planning and grid connections.
Sessions will also look at priorities during reform implementation for legacy and transition arrangements, and for maintaining investor confidence for projects that were previously invested in, including how clarity and continuity can best be delivered as new market arrangements are introduced. Discussion will draw on experience from the CfD AR7 design and outcomes, with consideration of lessons for policy development ahead of AR8. Further areas for discussion include concerns regarding differences in network costs across regions, volatility in transmission charges, and expectations for how local energy plans can be coordinated within national and regional networks, alongside approaches to strengthening public engagement.
Implications for investment & cost
Further sessions assess priorities for putting in place conditions that will support investment in infrastructure delivery, focusing on low-carbon projects and concerns around potential barriers - such as rising transmission charges.
Delegates will assess Ofgem’s final determinations for RIIO-3, including the proposed £10.3bn investment for electricity networks, alongside NESO’s forecast TNUoS tariffs. Discussion will consider priorities and options for factoring implications of rising transmission charges into wider market reform, including impacts for renewable generation, project development and consumer affordability.
There will be discussion on energy cost measures introduced in the 2025 Autumn Budget may affect funding for grid management and clean energy infrastructure delivery - including the shift to the Renewable Obligations Levy into general taxation, and introduction of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. Delegates will consider implications of switching the RO and Feed-in Tariff schemes to CPI-based indexation for investor confidence, regulatory stability, cost of capital, and achieving Clean Power 2030.
Constraints, flexibility & long-term efficiency
Priorities for the Capacity Market and balancing reform will be discussed, looking at support for energy security, constraints management, flexibility and decarbonisation. Opportunities for energy flexibility providers within the Capacity Market will be considered, in the context of NESO’s Enabling Demand-Side Flexibility Programme - alongside balancing and settlement reform intended to support participation by small-scale consumer-led assets and independent aggregators. Areas for discussion include issues around complexity, technology and size bias, and grid connection.
Delegates will also assess implications of recent and proposed measures for participation and investment signals, including termination fees for demand-side response and penalty processes. We expect discussion to reflect concerns from some stakeholders that such measures could deter participation and affect the uptake of flexible technologies. Progress under NESO’s Constraints Collaboration Project in addressing network congestion and reducing constraints costs will be discussed, and what this may mean for future energy infrastructure delivery.
Further sessions will consider longer-term priorities for supporting the deployment of flexible technologies, including demand-side flexibility and grid-scale solutions, and the alignment of planning between market reform, the Clean Flexibility Roadmap and Clean Power 2030. Attendees will also assess the potential role of digital grid management tools, data-sharing systems, and frameworks for closer coordination between local authorities and regulators in improving efficiency and flexibility and supporting longer-term system development.
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 Transport; Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Ministry of Defence; National Audit Office; Office for Investment; Department for the Economy, NI; and The Scottish Government
