The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published its response to the National Energy System Operator's (NESO) North Hyde report on 18 November 2025, setting out an implementation plan for NESO's recommendations and a commitment to improve energy resilience across Great Britain through an Energy Resilience Strategy1. The response applies to England, Scotland and Wales1.
The review followed a fire at North Hyde Electricity Substation in Hayes, London, on Thursday 20 March 2025, which disrupted power supply to over 70,000 customers and businesses1. Power was restored within hours, but secondary impacts to the aviation sector from the associated closure of Heathrow Airport continued to be felt for days1. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero commissioned NESO to undertake a comprehensive review of the incident, to identify lessons and recommendations for the prevention and management of future power disruption events and for Great Britain's energy resilience more broadly1. NESO published its review report on 2 July 20251.
The implementation plan sets out actions across three areas1:
| Area of action | Scope as set out in the response |
|---|---|
| Resilience of energy infrastructure | Improvements to the resilience of energy infrastructure |
| Response and restoration | Improvements to the response and restoration of energy infrastructure |
| Critical infrastructure | Enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure to energy disruption |
The plan was developed in collaboration with the Energy Resilience Group (ERG), described in the response as a partnership between government, the regulator and industry which ensures a joined-up approach to energy resilience, emergency response and recovery across Great Britain1.
"The government response sets a clear implementation plan to make progress against NESO 's recommendations, and sets out the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero's commitment to improve GB energy resilience through an Energy Resilience Strategy."
Why it matters for households
The incident affected more than 70,000 customers and businesses, with power restored within hours but aviation disruption lasting days1. The response concerns the resilience of energy infrastructure and the response and restoration arrangements that apply when supply is disrupted, and it applies to England, Scotland and Wales1. The government states that the implementation plan is intended to make progress against NESO's recommendations, and that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is committed to improving GB energy resilience through an Energy Resilience Strategy1. The response does not, in the text published, set out a timetable for the individual actions or the date by which the Energy Resilience Strategy is expected. Those details have not been reported in the response as published.
What happens next
The implementation plan is to be taken forward with the Energy Resilience Group, the partnership between government, the regulator and industry1. The response states the department's commitment to an Energy Resilience Strategy for Great Britain but gives no date for it in the published text1. The government's wider approach to resilience is set out in The UK Government Resilience Framework and Action Plan, and general household preparedness guidance is collected in the uk-preparedness hub.
