UK Power Networks is a
distribution network operator
A distribution network operator (DNO), also known as a distribution system operator (DSO), is the operator of the electric power distribution system which delivers electricity to most end users. Each country may have many local distribution networ ...
for
electricity
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described ...
covering
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England at the ITL 1 statistical regions of England, first level of International Territorial Level, ITL for Statistics, statistical purposes. It consists of the counties of england, ...
, the
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. This region was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics purposes from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire ...
and
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. It manages three licensed distribution networks (Eastern Power Networks, South Eastern Power Networks and
London Power Networks) which together cover an area of square kilometres and approximately eight million customers.
In 2014 UK Power Networks was awarded £25 million from the electricity regulator
Ofgem
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's Low Carbon Networks Fund for the Low Carbon London project. In 2011 it was awarded £6.7 million by Ofgem for another project,
Flexible Plug and Play
Flexible Plug and Play is a research project looking at how to improve the connection of renewable energy generation, like wind farms, to electricity distribution networks in the UK. According to the original submission to Ofgem, the electricity ...
, which is researching new ways, technical and commercial, to connect renewable energy to the distribution network in Cambridgeshire.
As well as the three distribution arms UK Power Networks also operates UK Power Networks Services Holdings Limited, which develops and maintains electrical networks for customers including
London Underground
The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or by its nickname the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent ceremonial counties of England, counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and He ...
,
Heathrow
Heathrow Airport (), called ''London Airport'' until 1966 and now known as London Heathrow , is a major international airport in London, England. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system (the others bei ...
and
Stansted
London Stansted Airport is a tertiary international airport serving London, England, United Kingdom. It is located near Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, England, northeast of Central London.
London Stansted serves over 160 destinations acro ...
airports,
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is an automated light metro system serving the redeveloped Docklands area of London, England and provides a direct connection between London's two major financial districts, Canary Wharf and the City of Londo ...
and
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is an area of London, England, located near the Isle of Dogs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Canary Wharf is defined by the Greater London Authority as being part of London's central business district, alongside Central Lo ...
.
History
The area originally comprised three networks: the
London Electricity Board
The London Electricity Board was the public sector utility company responsible for the supply and distribution of electricity to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers in London prior to 1990. It also sold and made available for hire and ...
, the
Eastern Electricity Board
Eastern Electricity plc was an electricity supply and distribution utility serving eastern England, including East Anglia and part of Greater London. It was renamed ''Eastern Group'' under which name it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and ...
and the
South Eastern Electricity Board, known as
SEEBOARD, before being brought together by
EDF Energy
EDF Energy is a British integrated energy company, wholly owned by the French state-owned EDF (Électricité de France), with operations spanning electricity generation and the sale of natural gas and electricity to homes and businesses through ...
to form EDF Energy Networks.
UK Power Networks began operations in October 2010 after the sale of EDF Energy Networks to
the
Cheung Kong Group
Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited, is a multinational conglomerate, based in Hong Kong. It was one of Hong Kong's leading multi-national conglomerates. The company merged with its subsidiary Hutchison Whampoa on 3 June 2015, as part of a major ...
for a reported £5.5 billion.
UK Power Networks maintains the electricity networks including the lines and electricity cables. There are 14
distribution network operator
A distribution network operator (DNO), also known as a distribution system operator (DSO), is the operator of the electric power distribution system which delivers electricity to most end users. Each country may have many local distribution networ ...
s (DNOs), each responsible for a different area of the country. These DNOs are all regulated by the
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
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, logo = Ofgem logo.svg
, logo_width = 124px
, logo_caption =
, seal =
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, picture =
, picture_wid ...
(Ofgem).
Ownership
UK Power Networks is owned by
Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings
CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited (CKI), is the largest publicly listed infrastructure company in Hong Kong with diversified investments in energy infrastructure, transportation Infrastructure, water Infrastructure and infrastructure related ...
, 40%,
Power Assets Holdings
Power Assets Holdings Limited (), formerly Hongkong Electric Holdings Limited (), is a vertically integrated electric utility company. It is the majority shareholder in the Hongkong Electric Company, having reduced its holding in the company throu ...
, 40%, and
The Li Ka Shing Foundation, 20%.
See also
*
History of EDF Energy Networks
References
External links
*
Electric power distribution network operators in the United Kingdom
CK Hutchison Holdings
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