London—Dentons has advised the UK Government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on the establishment of National Energy System Operator Limited (NESO) as the statutory Independent System Operator and Planner under the Energy Act 2023.

NESO is the independent, public corporation responsible for planning Britain's electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.

The new corporation will take a new "whole system" approach to the UK's energy system, which will help inform policy and investment decisions in this area.

Founded on the UK's Electricity System Operator (ESO), which has been operated by National Grid, NESO will take on new responsibilities, from network planning to market development, resilience, security of supply and net zero energy insights.

Dentons has been advising on the project for several years, including supporting policy development, advising on public consultations, working on the primary and secondary legislation, regulation and the commercial agreement announced today for the Government to acquire National Grid ESO.

Dentons deployed lawyers across a range of legal disciplines to work closely with the Government Legal Department, UK Government Investments (UKGI), other government advisers and Ofgem to support policy and regulatory teams.

The Dentons team was led by Energy Partner Christopher McGee-Osborne. He comments: "We’re delighted to have used our knowledge of energy regulation and markets to support DESNZ in delivering this unique and important project to further the UK’s drive towards net zero.”

The wider Dentons team advising DESNZ on the establishment of NESO included Partners Charles Wood, Richard Barham, Claudia Thomas, Eleanor Hart, Carolyn Burns, Sarah Lima and Rob Wyatt; Counsels Adam Brown, Talya Morris, Jeremy Easton, Fee James and Kirsty McBirnie; Senior Associates Mathew Boyle, Ryan Chia and James Fox; Associates Charlotte White and Gillian Cole; Trainee Kelly Johnson; and Senior Legal Project Manager Jonathan Williams.

Dentons is a longstanding legal adviser to the UK Government and, in 2023, jointly with the Government Legal Department, won The Lawyer's 'Competition and Regulatory Team of the Year' and the British Legal Awards 'Collaboration Team of the Year' awards for advising DESNZ on the Energy Prices Act 2022 and related interventions in the energy markets to reduce energy bills for households and businesses.

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