Background

EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest power companies and provides three services to its customers: energy generation, energy distribution and energy supply. The area of distribution is run by EDF Energy Networks which owns, operates and manages the three licensed distribution networks that deliver power to homes and businesses in London, the South East and East of England. We take electricity from the National Grid and transform it down to voltages which are suitable for commercial and domestic use.

EDF Energy Networks is the largest electricity distribution network owner in the UK covering an area of approximately 30,000 km², extending from The Wash in the East to Littlehampton on the Sussex coast. Approximately eight million connected customers depend on us for their power.

Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are natural monopolies therefore the industry regulator, Ofgem, protects customers’ interests by regulating the companies through five-year price control periods, which include curbs on expenditure as well incentives to be efficient and technically innovative. The Distribution Price Control Review (DPCR) process, which will determine the amount of money we can invest in our networks between 2010 and 2015, has now begun.

As part of this review, Ofgem has asked all DNOs to consult with their major customers. This consultation deals solely with the distribution side of our business managed by EDF Energy Networks. Over the next fifteen years, the electricity industry will face many challenges in the development, operation and maintenance of our electricity distribution networks. EDF Energy Networks is committed to meeting these challenges. We expect to make significant investments in our network working closely with you, our customers.

This consultation web site outlines the main issues our network faces, which have been informed by ongoing engagement with our key stakeholders to understand their concerns about the future. Your involvement is important in this process as we want to further understand what our customers think we should invest in. We welcome the opportunity to engage with you in this consultation process, and the feedback you provide will help us shape our approach to running your distribution network in the future. Please join the debate.

Consultation-related documents for download

Summary Report (360KB, opens in a new window). This is the summary report of the consultation, providing an overview of three stakeholder workshops and summarising the findings of the online consultation.

Consultation Document 'Planning for the future of our Networks' - for printing (5.3MB, opens in a new window). This is the complete consultation document in print quality.

Consultation Document 'Planning for the future of our Networks' - for viewing on screen (3.2MB, opens in a new window). This is the complete consultation document, in smaller size, for viewing on the screen.

The consultation questions can be found on pages 52 and 53 of the consultation document.

Glossary (300KB, opens in a new window). This document is provided as a supplement to the consultation document.

Contents (100KB, opens in a new window)