Daily EV news · UK · 31 October 2026
Grid & Energy
Britain spent £47.9 million in one day balancing the grid, paying to curb wind output and run gas plants
In a single day Britain spent £47.9 million balancing its electricity grid, paying to reduce wind generation while turning to gas plants elsewhere. According to the Guardian, as reported by The Cool Down, the costs were some of the highest recorded since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. September's total balancing bill reached £505 million, and NESO contacted France twice, on 9 October and 12 October, to help stabilise the grid.
Why it matters
Grid bottlenecks that strand cheap wind output are pushing up system costs that are expected to reach household bills, which raises the pressure on network charges and wider energy costs for charge point operators. Sites that can flex demand or sit where capacity is constrained may become more valuable to bidders and funders.