National Grid to pay £20 million after failures at Cumbria substation
Energy watchdog says maintenance issues at Harker site near Carlisle risked network reliability.
National Grid has agreed to pay £20 million after failing to properly maintain a major electricity substation in Cumbria.
Energy regulator Ofgem said National Grid Electricity Transmission admitted breaching licence conditions at the Harker substation near Carlisle between November 2016 and November 2021.
The watchdog found the company failed to properly monitor, maintain and repair some civil assets at the site, as well as plan and resource the necessary repair work.
The Harker substation is an important part of the electricity network serving the North West and helps connect power between England and Scotland. It is also key for renewable energy projects looking to link to the grid.
The £20 million payment will go into Ofgem’s voluntary redress scheme, which funds projects supporting vulnerable energy customers.
Ofgem said repairs were completed in 2022 and the site is now being rebuilt and expanded as part of a major investment programme to increase capacity and support future energy demand.