Data as a superpower

One of the most powerful assets electricity networks hold isn’t physical infrastructure; it’s data. Grid maps, load profiles, asset conditions, geospatial insights, demand forecasts: all of these make up a dataset that, if better harnessed and shared, could radically accelerate the delivery of energy efficiency and unlock coordinated action across the system.

Yet many of the experts involved believe this superpower remains underused. As Regen's Andrew Barry puts it: “Data is the most powerful tool networks have, but it only works if it’s shared.” Yes, the value of data lies not in what it does for networks internally, but in how it empowers others – from local authorities to installers to consumer support groups – to act strategically and confidently.

There are signs of progress. SSEN’s work piloting geospatial heat pump uptake tools, which combine network constraint data with EPC and housing archetype overlays, offers a glimpse of what’s possible. According to Taylor, “we’ve shown that you can model where heat pumps are likely to be adopted based on real data (not aspirational forecasts), and overlay that with network constraints and EPC data. That creates a map of where efficiency matters most, and where that value is most likely to be realised.” But these advanced tools are still too often used in-house, rather than made available to the wider ecosystem. Local authorities, tasked with developing local area energy plans, frequently find themselves working with incomplete or outdated network data. Johnson says that “it’s really important to reduce the data burden on Local Authorities and support them in accessing useful, up to date data. Networks need to invest in better data”.

“We’ve shown that you can model where heat pumps are likely to be adopted, and overlay that with network constraints and EPC data. That creates a map of where efficiency matters most”.

Harry Taylor, Partner Lead, Energy Networks, Baringa

The demand for more open, integrated data platforms is growing. She argues that what’s needed is not just raw information, but structured, granular, user-friendly tools that can feed directly into planning. “It’s not enough to dump a CSV file online,” she says. “The data needs to be framed in ways that answer local questions – where are the hotspots? What kind of homes? What’s the system constraint we’re trying to solve?”

This is where networks could play a catalytic role. By acting as trusted stewards of location-specific data and making that data available under shared protocols, DNOs could supercharge both retrofit targeting and funding alignment. For example, local authorities applying for government funding, such as the Home Upgrade Grant or ECO4, could use network data to show where grid constraints align with social need, strengthening their business cases and making delivery smarter.

Anderson believes we should go one step further, suggesting that networks could help set the foundations for entirely new market structures. “Data is the infrastructure before the infrastructure,” he says. “If you want to build a local energy economy, it rests on insight. That’s what derisks investment and helps people act in concert.”

For shared data to have impact, it must be seen as credible, independent, and well-governed, agrees Chard. “People trust data when they can see how it relates to their experience – when it confirms what they already feel about the cold spots in their neighbourhood or the pressure points in their community.”

Looking further ahead, there are calls for Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to create stronger regulatory and funding levers for data sharing. Some suggest a national platform, maintained by networks but accessible to local partners, that could standardise everything from constraint mapping to retrofit cost–benefit calculations. Others favour more regional collaboration hubs where networks could work directly with councils, community energy groups and installers to co-develop planning insights.

Regardless of the model, the direction of travel is clear: data must shift from being a back-office asset to a public good. If networks can embrace that shift, they will transform from passive information holders into active enablers of decarbonisation, using their data not just to balance loads, but to empower places.

The road ahead

As the ED3 period approaches, a new vision for electricity networks is beginning to take shape; one in which DNOs are actively enabling a fair, efficient and locally tailored decarbonisation.

This vision asks networks to think beyond kilowatts and cables. It asks them to think about people, places, and long-term system value. Hall captures the spirit of this shift when he says: “The challenge is not delivery, but enablement. Not prescribing, but empowering. Not short-term fixes, but long-term alignment.”

The next five years will be decisive. Efficiency must move from pilot to mass rollout, from patchy schemes to systemic strategy. And that will require unprecedented collaboration between networks, local authorities, government, industry and communities. It will require clarity of roles, investment in data and planning, and a commitment to ensuring that no household is left behind.

Electricity networks may not be on the front line of delivery, but they are now central to making it all possible.

Nigel Bessant, head of network operations at SSEN, concludes: “Building an efficient network is only part of the solution – we also need to empower our customers to use energy wisely. When people can heat their homes and live comfortably while using energy efficiently, everyone wins: lower bills, greater network capacity, and cleaner, greener power for all.

“SSEN already shares extensive data and we're building tools that show where energy efficiency matters most. By mapping heat pump adoption against network pinch points and EPC data, we can target action where it has the greatest impact. Ultimately, these smarter insights will help to deliver more network capacity, driving a cleaner future and supporting economic growth."