Our Capital Investment Programme is the largest ever undertaken in the North West, with over £2 billion being invested between 2023 and 2028. This programme is designed to upgrade, expand, and future-proof the electricity network to meet growing demand and support the transition to a low-carbon future.
Capital investment FAQ
Capital investment frequently asked questions
Electricity demand is expected to increase by a third by 2030, driven by the rise of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other low-carbon technologies. Our investment ensures the network can handle this growth while remaining reliable, safe, and efficient.
Capital projects are large-scale infrastructure developments that involve building, upgrading, or replacing network assets such as substations, overhead lines, and underground cables. These projects are long-term network investment. They improve reliability, support local growth, and prepare the network for future energy needs like electric vehicles and renewable energy.
This is our internal structure for managing capital projects efficiently. It includes a Programme Management Organisation (PMO) that oversees planning, execution, and delivery to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
These projects make the network more resilient and efficient, reduce the risk of power cuts, and enable cleaner, greener energy solutions. They also support local jobs and economic development.
- Improved reliability: Reducing power outages and downtime.
- Greater capacity: Supporting more homes and businesses with clean electricity.
- Support for low-carbon technologies: Enabling easier adoption of EVs, heat pumps, and solar panels.
- Economic growth: Creating jobs and supporting regional development.
We’re investing across the North West, including:
- Greater Manchester: £32m+ across seven sites, creating capacity for 150,000 homes and businesses.
- Cumbria: £40m to replace 154km of overhead lines.
- Lancashire: £33m to upgrade 11 substations.
Projects may include:
- Installing new underground cables
- Building or upgrading substations
- Reinforcing existing infrastructure
- Deploying innovative technologies like CLASS, SmartStreet, and LineSight
We’re here to help. If you or someone you know needs extra support during the works, please contact us so we can provide tailored assistance. You can visit our Extra Care web pages for lots of help and information, and sign up to our Extra Care Register.
Extra CareYes. We aim to minimise disruption and will always notify residents and businesses in advance of any planned works. We work closely with local authorities to coordinate and communicate effectively, including:
- Letters and leaflets
- On-site signage
- Our social media channels
- Press releases
- Community events
- School visits
- This dedicated web page
By increasing network capacity and resilience, we’re enabling the widespread adoption of low-carbon technologies. This supports regional and national targets to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a green economy.
We aim to keep any disruption to a minimum. If planned outages are necessary, we’ll notify you in advance and work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
Each project is different, but we’ll always provide clear timelines and regular updates. Our teams work efficiently to complete work as quickly as possible while maintaining safety and quality.
We follow strict environmental standards and aim to reduce our impact by protecting wildlife, reducing waste, and using low-emission equipment wherever possible. We have dedicated environment and biodiversity managers.
Capital projects are part of our regulated investment plans, approved by Ofgem. We work hard to deliver them efficiently to keep costs fair for all customers.
Our part of your electricity bill will remain low during this time: around £123 per year - one of the lowest of any network operator.
You can contact our customer service team online or by calling 105, or speak to a member of our on-site team. We’re always happy to help.
We'll also keep you up to date with any upcomming community events.
Contact usVisit our Network Investment page for updates, regional investment booklets, and contact details. We welcome feedback and engagement from our customers and stakeholders.