Western Power Distributor (WPD) has recently announced that they will be aiming to be totally carbon neutral in the next seven years.
WPD’s plans to invest £6.2 billion as they attempt to lead the way in delivering a smarter, decarbonised, affordable network fit for the future.
The proposals have gained strong support from many customers and are part of their first submission Business Plan which goes to the energy regulator, Ofgem, for the period 2023-2028.
This follows a rigorous, two-year stakeholder engagement programme, in which more than 19,000 stakeholders shared their views and helped to co-create the plan.
The plan will see them create a flexible network that is avle to deliver the power required to charge millions of electric vehicles, as well as the 600,000 heat pumps that are expected to pop up across the region by 2028.
The company has also pledged to deliver the lowest ever levels of power cuts during this period.
Phil Swift, WPD’s Chief Executive, commented on the proposed plans as he said: “We are extremely proud of the plan we have created with our stakeholders.
“It is highly ambitious and will revolutionise the energy network, while providing excellent value for money. It includes an extensive programme to deliver direct support to the local communities that we serve, such as £1 million Community Matters fund.
“Over the last two years, stakeholders have informed us of their needs and expectations for the future. We’re offering unrivalled levels of transparency and inviting as much scrutiny of our proposals as possible.
“We were the first Distribution Network Operator to issue a draft business plan in January and, in response to feedback, we increased the ambition of 60% of our commitments.
“In March, we published a second draft plan inviting further comments, which received huge levels of support.
“The message from our customers has been clear – the world we live in is changing, and WPD must be forerunners in delivering a sustainable future for generations to come.
”We understand and share these ambitions and have risen to the challenge. But these are not empty promises. Every single commitment has been carefully considered; we know that we can achieve them and we will report annually to provide updates on our progress.
“Our purpose is to continue to deliver exceptional service, while supporting the environmental and social wellbeing for the communities we serve.
“The challenge of a net zero low carbon economy means that we are working in the most sensational and revolutionary era for the industry in decades. I, for one, am excited to see what the future holds, and this plan is just the start of our journey to net zero.”
“The plan may not come into force until 2023, but for us the work has already started. We’re confident that our far-reaching yet affordable commitments will enable us to meet the challenges of a fast-changing energy future, power improvements and ensure no customer is left behind in the smart energy transition, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
“The plan will be delivered by us but has been created and delivered for all of our customers.”
For full details about their business plan, please click here.
