National Grid plc
British multinational energy infrastructure company operating electricity and gas networks in Great Britain and the northeastern United States.
Last updated November 3, 2026
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Overview
National Grid plc is a British multinational energy infrastructure company headquartered in London. Its principal activities are the ownership, operation and development of electricity transmission and distribution networks in Great Britain, together with electricity and gas transmission, distribution and supply activities in parts of the northeastern United States. The company is a major investor-owned utility and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, where it is a constituent of the FTSE 100, as well as American depositary receipts listed in New York. The present company emerged from the restructuring of the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1990. Electricity transmission assets in England and Wales were transferred to the National Grid Company, while generation and regional electricity distribution were placed in separate successor businesses. National Grid was initially owned by the twelve regional electricity companies and became publicly listed in 1995. It subsequently expanded through acquisitions in the United States and through the 2002 combination with Lattice Group, the owner of the Transco gas transmission and distribution businesses. The Lattice transaction made National Grid a major gas-network operator, although the company later reduced that exposure. Its regional gas distribution networks were sold in 2017, creating Cadent Gas, and its remaining UK gas transmission and metering business was separated into National Gas, whose final National Grid stake was disposed of in 2024. National Grid also sold its Rhode Island utility to PPL while acquiring Western Power Distribution in 2021; the latter was renamed National Grid Electricity Distribution in 2022. In the United Kingdom, the company has historically combined network ownership with system-operation responsibilities. Regulatory concerns about conflicts of interest led to the separation of the Electricity System Operator, and the Energy Act 2023 enabled the creation of an independent National Energy System Operator. NESO took over Great Britain’s electricity system-operator functions on 1 October 2024 after an agreement under which the government acquired the relevant operation. National Grid’s British electricity businesses include the high-voltage transmission network in England and Wales, the distribution network serving the Midlands, southwest England and South Wales, and interests in international interconnectors including links to France and the Netherlands. In the United States, its businesses serve customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island through electricity and gas networks and related utility companies. The company’s strategic focus is increasingly tied to electrification, renewable-energy integration, network resilience, interconnection capacity and the transition toward lower-carbon energy systems.
History
National Grid’s origins lie in the reform of the British electricity industry. Before 1990, the Central Electricity Generating Board controlled generation and transmission in England and Wales. The 1990 restructuring separated generation from transmission and created the National Grid Company to own and operate the transmission assets. The company was initially held by the twelve regional electricity companies and obtained its London Stock Exchange listing in December 1995. National Grid began international expansion in 2000 with the acquisition of New England Electric System and Eastern Utilities Associates in the United States. It acquired Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation in 2002, strengthening its position in New York. Also in 2002, National Grid merged with Lattice Group, which owned the Transco gas business. The enlarged group was temporarily known as National Grid Transco before adopting the National Grid plc name in 2005. The company sold its telecommunications subsidiary and later disposed of four regional gas distribution networks. A 2004 gas-explosion case involving Transco resulted in a fine of £15 million. The company expanded its United States presence through the 2006 agreement to acquire KeySpan Corporation and New England Gas Company. The KeySpan transaction completed in 2007 and substantially enlarged National Grid’s American customer base. In parallel, National Grid developed interconnection infrastructure, including the 1,000 MW BritNed link with Dutch transmission operator TenneT. The 260-kilometre subsea connection became operational in 2011. During the 2010s, National Grid increasingly reshaped its portfolio. It sold its New Hampshire utility operations after regulators rejected a requested rate increase. In 2017 it sold a majority interest in its UK gas distribution business to an infrastructure-investor consortium, creating Cadent Gas, and exited the remaining holding in 2019. The company also faced public and political debate over its ownership of interconnectors and the combination of transmission ownership with system-operation duties. In 2019, it announced a move of certain UK operations’ ownership arrangements to Luxembourg and Hong Kong, which critics associated with proposals to nationalise the company. In 2021 National Grid agreed a portfolio exchange with PPL: it acquired Western Power Distribution in the UK and sold Narragansett Electric in Rhode Island. Western Power Distribution became National Grid Electricity Distribution in 2022. National Grid then agreed to separate its remaining UK gas transmission and metering assets into National Gas, selling a 60% stake in 2023 and subsequently disposing of its residual interest. The company also transferred its system-operation responsibilities to NESO in October 2024 following UK legislative and regulatory reforms. Its current strategic direction centres on investment in electricity networks, renewable integration, energy security, electrification and infrastructure required for the energy transition.
- 2024
NESO takes over system operation
[1]The independent National Energy System Operator assumed Great Britain electricity system-operation responsibilities.
- 2023
National Gas transaction completes
[1]National Grid separated and sold a majority interest in its UK gas transmission and metering business.
- 2021
Western Power Distribution acquired
[1]National Grid acquired the UK electricity distribution company from PPL as part of a broader asset exchange.
- 2017
Cadent Gas is formed
[1]National Grid sold a majority interest in its UK gas distribution business.
- 2011
BritNed becomes operational
[1]The 1,000 MW UK–Netherlands electricity interconnector entered service.
- 2007
KeySpan acquisition completes
[1]The acquisition substantially increased National Grid’s American electricity and gas operations.
- 2002
Niagara Mohawk and Lattice acquisitions
[1]National Grid expanded in New York through Niagara Mohawk and entered gas networks through its merger with Lattice Group.
- 2000
United States expansion begins
[1]The group acquired New England Electric System and Eastern Utilities Associates.
- 1995
London Stock Exchange listing
[1]National Grid was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in December.
- 1990
National Grid Company is created
[1]Electricity transmission activities formerly conducted by the CEGB in England and Wales were transferred to the newly created National Grid Company.
Products and positioning
A critical energy-infrastructure operator focused on secure, resilient and increasingly decarbonised electricity and gas networks.
Electricity transmission · 1990
Great Britain electricity transmission
National Grid Electricity Transmission owns and maintains the high-voltage transmission network in England and Wales, including 275 kV and 400 kV infrastructure. The network moves bulk electricity between generators, interconnectors and distribution systems and is central to integrating renewable generation and maintaining system resilience.
Electricity distribution · 2021
National Grid Electricity Distribution
The distribution business, formerly Western Power Distribution, operates lower-voltage networks across the Midlands, southwest England and South Wales. Its assets include substations, overhead lines, underground cables and networks at multiple voltage levels connecting homes and businesses with the transmission system.
Utility services · 2000
United States electricity and gas networks
National Grid’s US operations deliver electricity and natural gas to customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. The portfolio includes transmission assets, local distribution systems and historic utility companies such as Niagara Mohawk, Massachusetts Electric and Boston Gas.
International interconnection · 2011
BritNed interconnector
BritNed is a 1,000 MW high-voltage direct-current electricity link jointly developed with TenneT between Kent and the Netherlands. It enables electricity trading and cross-border balancing between the British and Dutch systems.
Controversies
2021
National Grid and Scottish Power agree to pay £158m penalty over cable delays
National Grid and Scottish Power agreed to pay a record £158m penalty after the industry regulator found that delays to the Western Link subsea power cable led to Scottish wind farms being paid to switch off on windy days. A spokesperson for the joint venture said it recognized it was ultimately accountable for the delay and had agreed to the redress package.
2018
Massachusetts gas-worker lockout
Contract negotiations with United Steelworkers-represented gas workers broke down, after which National Grid locked out more than 1,000 employees and suspended pay and healthcare coverage.
2004
Transco gas explosion liability
Transco was held liable in a gas-explosion case and fined £15 million.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Powering Past Coal Alliance
United Kingdom
National Grid’s Electricity System Operator arm announced support for the Powering Past Coal Alliance and the ambition of operating a zero-carbon electricity system by 2025.
Outcome. Public climate and energy-transition commitment
Brand decisions
2024
Transfer system-operation duties to NESOStrategyBackground
Regulators and government identified potential conflicts between network ownership and system operation.
Action taken
National Grid transferred Great Britain electricity system-operation responsibilities to the independent National Energy System Operator.
Aftermath
NESO began operating on 1 October 2024.
2021
Acquire Western Power Distribution and sell Narragansett ElectricM&ABackground
National Grid rebalanced its UK and US regulated-network portfolio.
Action taken
It agreed to acquire Western Power Distribution from PPL and sell Narragansett Electric to PPL.
Aftermath
The transactions received approval in September 2021; Western Power Distribution was later renamed National Grid Electricity Distribution.
Announced transaction values. (2021)
2002
Merge with Lattice GroupM&ABackground
National Grid sought to expand from electricity transmission into gas infrastructure.
Action taken
It merged with Lattice Group, owner of the Transco gas business.
Aftermath
The enlarged group became National Grid Transco before being renamed National Grid plc in 2005.
Recent events
National Grid and Scottish Power agree to pay £158m penalty over cable delays[3]
Reported:
National Grid and Scottish Power agreed to pay a record £158m penalty after the industry regulator found that delays to the Western Link subsea power cable led to Scottish wind farms being paid to switch off on windy days. A spokesperson for the joint venture said it recognized it was ultimately accountable for the delay and had agreed to the redress package.
Wipro signs multi-year strategic IT deal with National Grid[4]
Reported:
Wipro signed a multi-year global strategic IT and digital deal with National Grid. Wipro will support National Grid's digital transformation, data-center consolidation across the UK and US, and transition to next-generation hosting services.
PPL announces sale of Western Power Distribution[5]
Reported:
PPL announced that it would sell its U.K.-based utility business, Western Power Distribution, to National Grid in an all-cash transaction valued at £14.4 billion, including assumed debt. The sale was anticipated to close in four months, pending approvals.
PPL announces acquisition of Narragansett Electric[5]
Reported:
PPL announced that it would acquire National Grid's Rhode Island utility business, The Narragansett Electric Company. The transaction was valued at $5.3 billion including assumed debt and was expected to close within a year, pending approvals.
National Grid appoints Badar Khan as US Business president[6]
Reported:
National Grid announced Badar Khan’s appointment as President of its US Business. He had been acting as interim President since November 2019.
National Grid appoints Jon Butterworth to lead National Grid Ventures[6]
Reported:
National Grid announced Jon Butterworth’s appointment as Managing Director of National Grid Ventures and a member of the Group Executive Committee. He had held the role on an interim basis since November 2019.
Sources6 sources
- 1National Grid plcen.wikipedia.org
- 2National Grid corporate websitenationalgrid.com
- 3National Grid and Scottish Power agree to pay £158m penalty over cable delaystheguardian.com
- 4Wipro 与 National Grid 签署多年期战略 IT 合作协议finanznachrichten.de
- 5PPL宣布出售Western Power Distributiondailyenergyinsider.com
- 6National Grid任命巴达尔·汗为美国业务总裁directorstalkinterviews.com
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