National Grid plc is a regulated utility company that owns and operates electricity and natural gas transmission and distribution networks in the United Kingdom and the northeastern United States. The company delivers energy safely and reliably by managing the infrastructure that connects power generation sources to end-use customers across its service territories. Its core activities include planning, building, operating, and maintaining high-voltage electricity networks,…
National Grid plc is a regulated utility company that owns and operates electricity and natural gas transmission and distribution networks in the United Kingdom and the northeastern United States. The company delivers energy safely and reliably by managing the infrastructure that connects power generation sources to end-use customers across its service territories. Its core activities include planning, building, operating, and maintaining high-voltage electricity networks, gas pipelines, and related assets to support the flow of energy where and when it is needed.
National Grid plc generates revenue primarily through regulated returns on its investments in electricity and gas transmission and distribution infrastructure. The company earns income by charging customers and other network users for the use of its assets, with rates set by regulatory bodies in the UK and US. Its revenue is derived from providing essential energy delivery services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers, as well as from interconnectors that enable cross-border electricity trade and from its role as a Distribution System Operator facilitating local generation and flexibility services.
The company operates through the following segments: UK Electricity Transmission, UK Electricity Distribution, New York, New England, and National Grid Ventures.
- UK Electricity Transmission: This segment owns and operates the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales, connecting electricity generators, storage facilities, large customers, and distribution networks. It is responsible for transmitting power across long distances to support a resilient and clean power grid. The segment includes strategic initiatives such as the Electricity Transmission Partnership (ETP) and the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) portfolio, which support substation construction and grid modernization efforts across England and Wales.
- UK Electricity Distribution: This segment owns and operates the UK's largest electricity distribution network, serving approximately 20 million people across the East Midlands, West Midlands, South West, and South Wales. It functions as a Distribution System Operator overseen by an independent panel to coordinate supply and demand and enable local generation, storage, and flexibility. The segment has enabled over 14GW of generation connections to its network and has deployed AI-powered chatbots and analytics to improve customer service and network management.
- New York: This segment delivers electricity and gas to customers across a 26,400 square mile service territory in upstate and downstate New York. It operates under rate plans approved by the Public Service Commission, including the Niagara Mohawk joint proposal that authorizes approximately $5.5 billion in capital investment. The segment has deployed Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to over 1.5 million meters, reaching 67% of Upstate New York customers, and has launched the Kraken programme to transform customer interactions and improve service quality.
- New England: This segment provides electricity and gas services across Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and other New England states. It has expanded its FLISR capability to 34% of customers, enabling self-healing networks and reducing outages by nearly 19 million minutes. The segment has installed nearly 500,000 smart meters and is piloting technology with AiDASH to use satellite imagery and AI to predict and remove vegetation threats, thereby reducing outages. It also offers tiered income discount rates for eligible low-income customers to improve affordability.
- National Grid Ventures: This segment encompasses non-regulated activities, including interconnectors, gas storage, and investments in emerging technologies. It operates six interconnectors linking the UK to France, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, and Denmark, providing 7.8 GW of capacity for cross-border electricity trade. The segment has announced the world’s first 100% hydrogen-fuelled commercial linear generator at the Northport power plant in New York and continues to develop projects such as LionLink and GriffinLink to expand interconnector capabilities. National Grid Partners, its corporate venture capital arm, has invested over $550 million in startups advancing the future of energy, including a recent $100 million commitment to artificial intelligence startups supporting grid resilience and energy security.
National Grid plc holds a strong position within the regulated utility industry, benefiting from its strategic location in high-demand regions of the UK and US and its focus on critical infrastructure that supports economic growth and energy transition. The company competes with other transmission and distribution operators such as ScottishPower, SSEN Transmission, and Eversource in the US, but differentiates itself through its scale, long-duration assets, and early adoption of technologies like AI, dynamic line rating, and digital twins. Its competitive advantages include a resilient business model, strong regulatory relationships, and a clear track record of delivering infrastructure projects that enhance grid capacity and reliability.
National Grid plc serves a diverse customer base that includes residential households, commercial businesses, industrial facilities, and electricity generators that feed power into its networks. In the UK, it powers over 8 million homes and businesses through its electricity distribution network. In the US, it delivers energy to millions of customers across New York and New England, including specific initiatives that support income-eligible customers through bill discounts and energy efficiency programmes. The company also works closely with large-load customers such as data centres and advanced manufacturing facilities to connect them to the grid and support their energy needs.