How we ensure a secure and resilient energy supply

Non-load Plan

Our network is made up of lots of different type of assets, some that will be very familiar like overhead line towers and substations to assets that we use to control our network, that would only ever be visible to experienced engineers. Our job is to make sure we understand these assets to ensure we replace or refurbish them before they are no longer capable of carrying out their job and impact on our world class levels of resilience. This is what we call our non-load plan.

We are continually carrying out detailed condition assessments tailored to specific types of asset. Our experienced engineers review the condition of all of our assets as part of our accredited asset management processes. This allows us to understand when an asset is nearing end of life and requires to be replaced or when an asset reaches a condition when we can extend its life by carrying out a refurbishment. This process is continuous and what we present as our RIIO-T3 non-load plan is the assets we need to intervene on between 2026 and 2031, however our plans look far beyond the end of RIIO-T3.

For example – overhead lines are made up of many different types of asset. We look at the towers, fittings, conductors and earth wire and we decide the interventions required to ensure these assets remain reliable. In RIIO-T3 there are overhead line routes where we plan to replace the conductor, replace the fittings, paint the tower and replace the earthwire because that is what is needed to ensure the selected routes remain reliable. On other routes we are replacing only the fittings and others where we have selected to only paint the towers. We make sure, after careful consideration, we select the interventions that an asset needs which allows us to develop an efficient plan. This process is repeated for all of our different asset types and our non-load plan represents the interventions required to ensure our customers are only asked to fund the work that is required and enjoy the levels of resilience in our network that they expect.

Also to ensure efficiency, our non-load plan reflects interventions we are planning through our load expenditure activities.   

Operational Technology

The systems and networks that we use to protect, control and monitor our network are known collectively as operational technology (OT). These are required to ensure safe, reliable, and secure electrical network management. The protection system is critical to ensure safety of the general public, our operational teams, and to ensure stability of the electricity network. The remote control and monitoring systems of our network are vital to optimise network performance, reliability, and sustainability. It is the intelligent control of the network. 

Our Telecommunications network connects every substation to the control rooms providing a secure connectivity between them and the System Operator. It utilises a variety of media including 4G, radio, cable, fibre optic, satellite, and leased services. In RIIO-T3, we are investing in our Telecommunication networks to improve resilience of the electrical network by enhancing the quality and capacity of the existing telecommunications network, replacing obsolete equipment, and deploying new technologies to improve reliability and enhanced management of the network required to ensure our customers are only asked to fund the work that is required and enjoy the levels of resilience in our network that they expect.

Physical Security Plan

Physical security of our assets is of critical importance as we operate an essential service, with some of them classified by the UK Government as ‘Critical National Infrastructure’ (CNI). In RIIO-T3, we are focused on Physical Security and continue to invest in the enhancement of our existing systems and infrastructure.

In developing our Physical Security Plan, we have assessed all of our current existing physical security controls to establish strategic requirements, mitigating control sets and processes. This ensures our Physical Security aligns with Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018 (NIS Regulations) and also supports our Cyber Security Plan.  

Cyber Security Plan

In RIIO-T3, we continue to invest in Cyber Security for our Operational Technology as part of our risk-based approach and contributing to the resilience of our transmission network. We will also be developing a Cyber Security Plan, this will not be published publicly due to the sensitivity of the content. Whilst this plan is confidential, you can read more about our wider Digitalisation Strategy on our website.

Climate Resilience Plan

Our key objective is to maintain a safe and resilient network, therefore it is important that we respond to the changing climate and associated impacts. Our Sustainable Business Strategy defines Climate Resilience as:

“The ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to hazardous events, trends or disturbances to climate. Improving climate resilience involves assessing how climate change will create new, or alter current, climate-related risks, and taking steps to better cope with these risks.”

Our recently published Action Plan for Nature provides an overview of ‘Climate Resilience and Nature Based Solutions’. It explains that our approach to climate adaption “…focuses on actively investing in flood resilience at our infrastructure sites; as well as adapting to longer growing seasons and preparing for extremes of temperature by reviewing our vegetation management procedures and exploring Integrated Vegetation Management Methods (IVM).”

We published our Distribution Climate Resilience Strategy as part of our RIIO-ED2 Business Plan and will publish our Transmission Climate Resilience Strategy as part of our RIIO-T3 Business Plan in December 2024. This Strategy will outline the key risks we consider will impact our Transmission Network up to 2050 and potential mitigations we can implement to improve our network resilience. Higher priority mitigations and actions based on the Strategy will be implemented during the RIIO-T3 period (2026-2031).

An example of climate mitigation we have already implemented can be seen at the new Kincardine 275kV substation. We identified the risk of coastal flooding at this site and investigated several options for mitigations. After a cost assessment of the options, it was decided to raise the substation height by 6 metres through the use of an elevated platform. This was completed in 2022 and can be seen in the photos below.

The new Kincardine 275kV substation raised by 6 metres to defend against floods