Extreme heatwave battle sees new Met Office link up with grid chiefs to fireproof electricity network

BRITAIN’S power grid is being geared up to cope with scorching temperatures and wildfires which threaten the nation’s electricity network. The Met Office and National Energy System Operator (NESO) are working together to keep the lights on during extreme heatwaves. Experts will be given better information to deal with extreme weather under the plans Credit: PA A Police officer watches as a firefighter works at the site of a wildfire in Hornchurch, east of London, on July 30, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images) Credit: AFP Energy bosses believe the partnership will give experts better data to anticipate the extreme weather before it strikes. Insiders claim the move will bolster Britain’s energy security and cut costs during heatwaves. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Dr Debs Petterson, Director of Whole Energy System Resilience, said “Weather is becoming the fuel of the future energy system, and security of supply is critical. “Our partnership will help ensure that the UK continues benefiting from one of the most resilient electricity systems in the world, running at 99.999% reliability. “The extraordinary recent weather underlines why this work matters.” A source added: “For years, weather has been treated as background noise in energy planning. “That has led to us being reactive, rather than properly prepared. This partnership changes that. “Pairing the people who run the grid with the people who know most about our changing climate is exactly the sort of joined-up working that Britain needs if we want a power system that can take a heatwave in its stride without costing consumers a fortune.” Most read in The Sun Comment now