In brief
- Ofgem (19 October 2026) has approved £642.1 million of costs for National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET)’s Bramford to Twinstead project — against a £702.7 million request, a cut of £60.6 million.
- For East Anglia consumers and generators, the upgrade means 18 km of new overhead line, 11 km of underground cable, a new Twinstead Green substation and upgrades at Bramford, to move more low-carbon power and cut constraint payments.
- Context: this is a UK grid capacity decision under Ofgem’s ASTI fast-track (26 strategic projects), confirming a January “minded to” assessment — not an AI or data-centre announcement.
What is being built?
NGET is reinforcing the transmission path between Bramford (Suffolk) and Twinstead Tee (Essex) as part of its Great Grid Upgrade.
| Item | Detail (Ofgem) |
|---|---|
| Approved allowance | £642.1m |
| NGET request | £702.7m |
| Cut | £60.6m |
| Overhead | 18 km |
| Underground | 11 km |
| New kit | Twinstead Green substation; Bramford upgrades |
Why does Ofgem say it matters?
Extra capacity should let more renewable and low-carbon generation connect and reduce constraint costs — payments to wind farms to stop generating when the wires cannot take the power. Beatrice Filkin, Ofgem Director of Major Projects, said Britain needs “a bigger, stronger electricity grid” and that “every penny invested must deliver value for consumers.”
What about bills?
Ofgem ties the project into the RIIO-3 package: overall RIIO-3 arrangements “could lead to £108 being added to bills by 2031,” of which “around £60 is to pay for new electricity infrastructure,” with “estimated savings of £80 compared to not investing.”
How is ASTI different?
ASTI streamlines assessment of 26 strategically important onshore transmission projects so they can move faster while Ofgem still trims inefficient cost. Future allowances stay subject to the same efficiency tests. Ofgem does not send cash directly to transmission owners; NGET raises finance under the RIIO framework and recovers efficient costs through network charges on bills.
Who is affected?
- East Anglia households and businesses via network charges over time
- Renewable generators waiting on export capacity
- NGET and other transmission owners under ASTI scrutiny
Our read
This is a classic regulator trim: the wires get a green light, but £60.6m comes off the ask. Useful for anyone tracking UK connection queues and constraint costs. The bill maths (£108 / £60 / £80) is Ofgem’s RIIO-3 packaging; watch reopeners through March 2031 for the rest of that £108.
What’s still unknown?
- Final out-turn cost versus the £642.1m allowance
- Construction and energisation dates
- How much constraint-cost relief materialises in East Anglia
How we sourced this
- Sole primary: Ofgem press release, 19 October 2026.
- Framed as UK grid infrastructure, not an AI or data-centre project.
Sources
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