The role of National Grid (NG.) in keeping the country's lights on is bigger than ever. As well as owning and maintaining the electricity transmission network in England and the UK's gas transmission network, the energy group owns and operates much of the country's interconnectors - which carry energy to and from Europe - and runs the capacity auctions. However, members of the cross-party energy select committee would like this to change. It has called for National Grid to be stripped of its responsibility for balancing the supply and demand for energy in the UK.
In its latest report on developing a low-carbon energy infrastructure for the UK, the committee argues that an independent systems operator should be set up to ensure the security of the country's energy supply. Establishing an independent operator would go some way to addressing potential conflicts of interest from National Grid.