Overview
National Grid plc is an energy infrastructure company focused on electricity and gas networks in the United Kingdom and the United States. It owns and operates the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and distributes electricity across parts of the Midlands, South West England and Wales. In New York and New England, its businesses distribute electricity and gas.[1]
National Grid states its purpose as “to bring energy to life” and describes its aim as supporting a secure, affordable and clean energy future. For the financial year ended 31 March 2025, it reported £18.4 billion in continuing-operations revenue and approximately 31,700 employees in continuing operations.[2][3] [4][5][1][2][3]
Products & services
National Grid’s principal services are electricity transmission and distribution, and natural gas distribution. In England and Wales, its transmission business moves electricity at high voltage from generators toward regional networks; its distribution business delivers electricity at lower voltage to homes and businesses in the Midlands, South West England and South Wales. The transmission network includes about 7,000 km of overhead lines, 700 km of underground cable and more than 300 substations. The distribution network includes about 220,000 km of lines and cables and 185,000 substations.[6][3]
In New York and New England, National Grid provides electricity and natural gas network services, including electric transmission and distribution and gas distribution. Its network services include connecting customers and energy resources, maintaining infrastructure and upgrading capacity. For example, its upstate New York utility serves approximately 1.7 million electricity customers and 0.6 million gas customers through roughly 85,000 km of electricity lines and 14,000 km of gas pipeline.[3]
National Grid Ventures provides infrastructure services outside the core regulated networks, notably subsea electricity interconnectors that enable power trading between Great Britain and other European countries. Its portfolio also includes competitive transmission and US electricity generation. Viking Link, its Great Britain–Denmark interconnector, is a 475-mile high-voltage direct-current connection. In the year ended March 2025, UK electricity transmission, UK electricity distribution, New England, New York and National Grid Ventures accounted for approximately 13.5%, 13.2%, 23.4%, 36.4% and 7.3%, respectively, of continuing-operations third-party revenue; these are business-segment shares, not sales of individual products.[7][8][3] [6][9][10][10][10][10][10][10][3][7][8]
Geographic presence
National Grid’s operations are concentrated in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the UK, its electricity transmission network covers England and Wales, while its electricity distribution networks serve the East Midlands, West Midlands, South West England and South Wales. In the US, its New York operations include electricity networks in upstate New York and gas distribution in New York City and Long Island. Its New England operations include electricity transmission in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, and electricity and gas distribution in Massachusetts.[11]
For the year ended 31 March 2025, UK revenue was £6.707 billion, or approximately 36.5% of total revenue, and US revenue was £11.671 billion, or approximately 63.5%. The UK figure includes revenue earned by the UK Electricity System Operator before its disposal in October 2024. National Grid’s principal executive office is in London.[12][11] [13][13][14][14][14][14][14][15][16][11][12]
Business segments
National Grid reported six principal operating segments for the year ended 31 March 2025. UK Electricity Transmission operates the high-voltage network in England and Wales, while UK Electricity Distribution operates networks across the East and West Midlands, South West England and South Wales. Its New England and New York segments each encompass electricity transmission and distribution and gas distribution in their respective US regions. National Grid Ventures includes electricity interconnectors, LNG operations, US electricity generation and a US renewables investment. Other activities, reported separately, include property, insurance and corporate functions.[17][18][19]
As approximate shares of £18.4 billion in reported third-party revenue for that year, New York contributed 36%, New England 23%, UK Electricity Transmission 14%, UK Electricity Distribution 13%, National Grid Ventures 7%, the UK Electricity System Operator (ESO) 6%, and Other activities less than 1%. National Grid sold the ESO in October 2024, so its reported contribution covers only the period before disposal and does not represent an ongoing segment.[20][21] [17][18][19][21][20]
Company history
National Grid’s origins lie in the restructuring of Britain’s electricity industry: in 1990, the National Grid Company took control of the high-voltage transmission network in England and Wales. It was floated in 1995. The business expanded into the United States through acquisitions including New England Electric System in 2000 and Niagara Mohawk in 2002. Later in 2002, it combined with Lattice Group, the parent of the UK gas transmission business Transco, and became National Grid Transco. It adopted the name National Grid plc in 2005.[22][23][24][25][26][27]
National Grid further expanded its US operations by acquiring KeySpan in 2007. In the UK, it sold a majority stake in its gas distribution business in 2017, then acquired electricity distributor Western Power Distribution in 2021. Its Electricity System Operator business transferred to UK public ownership in 2024, becoming the National Energy System Operator.[28][29][30][31] [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]
Sources
- www.nationalgrid.com[1]
- www.nationalgrid.com[2]
- www.nationalgrid.com[3]
- NATIONAL GRID PLC — Full financial report (2025 Y)
- www.nationalgrid.com[7]
- www.nationalgrid.com[8]
- www.sec.gov[11]
- www.nationalgrid.com[12]
- NATIONAL GRID — Full financial report (2025 Y)
- www.sec.gov[20]
- www.nationalgrid.com[22]
- www.independent.co.uk[23]
- www.sec.gov[24]
- www.sec.gov[25]
- www.sec.gov[26]
- www.nationalgrid.com[27]
- www.sec.gov[28]
- www.nationalgrid.com[29]
- www.nationalgrid.com[30]
- www.gov.uk[31]
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