Regulator opens inquiry into datacentre power use

The national grid regulator opened a formal inquiry on Tuesday into the electricity consumption of large datacentres, saying demand had risen 34 percent in eighteen months.

Operators added 2.1 GW of new capacity in the region during 2025, according to filings reviewed by the regulator. Three of the largest sites now draw more power than the city of Norwich.

"We cannot plan a grid on estimates," said Priya Raman, the regulator's chief engineer. The inquiry will report in March 2027.

An industry group disputed the figure, calling it "misleading and incomplete" and saying investment of $4.2 billion had already gone into on-site generation.