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17 September 2007 - National Grid has stepped into the row over Europe's energy networks which is due to come to a head this week when Brussels unveils its plans for their ownership.
Nick Winser, National Grid's executive director for transmission, has written to the European commission to urge Brussels to stick to tough plans to separate the networks of pipes and wires that carry gas and electricity across the EU from the companies which generate electricity and supply energy to customers.
He points to the increase in competition that has followed the industry's liberalisation in England and Wales. "Full ownership unbundling of the transmission system in the England and Wales market has led to significantly more access to the transmission network for new sources of gas and electricity," he wrote.
The commission is concerned that the current structure, which allows vertically integrated utilities to own generation, transmission and distribution, is uncompetitive because it makes it difficult for newcomers to enter the market. But EU governments are divided about whether some of the region's sprawling utilities should be forced to give up ownership of the transmission networks, or whether they should be allowed to retain ownership, with operational control placed in separate companies subject to strong legal controls.
France and Germany are among the countries opposing the forced disposal of the transmission networks.
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