PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(28 August 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the review of AI deployment in electricity networks will include an assessment of the net effect on electricity demand of (a) AI-enabled grid efficiencies and (b) data-centre consumption.

Asked by:
Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat)

The Review’s Terms of Reference state that consideration of data centre energy usage is out of scope for the purposes of the review.

The Terms of Reference also state that the review will "assess the potential system benefits of AI including for affordability, energy security, flexibility, and decarbonisation, and the potential risks and challenges that could undermine delivery of these benefits".

Any recommendations to emerge from the review would be subject to their own assessments by Government, including the consideration of net impacts to electricity demand.

Answered by:
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