Andy Burnham Announces GB Grid to Lower Energy Costs

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the creation of GB Grid during his first speech as party leader at the Labour conference on Tuesday. The government-backed body will invest in the electricity grid to compete with private entities like National Grid and reform what Burnham described as a broken energy market.

GB Grid will be funded by a portion of the £4bn previously allocated to Great British Energy. The initiative focuses on accelerating the rollout of renewables and increasing grid connections for new projects. To further reduce delays, the government will expand the rights of businesses to build their own connections using GB Grid funding.

Burnham stated that British billpayers currently face some of the highest energy costs in Europe. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh supported the move, criticizing the previous government for failing to recognize the need for systemic investment, which now requires the current administration to act at a record pace over the next decade.