UK government to buy electricity system operator from National Grid for £630m

The Government is to buy the Electricity System Operator (ESO) from National Grid after striking a deal worth £630 million. It will pave the way for the ESO – the operation which oversees balancing supply and demand in the UK’s electricity grid – to be taken into public hands.

The move is part of the launch of the new National Energy System Operator (NESO) – a public body designed to aid the UK’s clean energy transition and support energy security. The new National Energy System Operator has a huge role to play in delivering our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the new body will launch on October 1 following the deal with National Grid.