TNUoS charges have long been a part of a group of charges that make up the total standing charge on bills. They typically recover the cost of installing and maintaining the transmission system in England, Wales, Scotland, and offshore.
The recent changes have been confirmed by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and approved by Ofgem to fund the cost of building, maintaining, and reinforcing the UK’s electricity transmission network.
The TNUoS charges are usually set ahead and that’s how energy suppliers calculate the final standing charge offered to customers. As the recent increase is significant, they are passed through to consumers via their energy bills.
The updated charges will be passed through on standing charges and apply to any bills from April 1st 2026 onwards.
TNUoS (Transmission Network Use of System) charges are fees built into your electricity bill that help pay for the upkeep and expansion of Britain’s high‑voltage power grid, ensuring electricity can be moved reliably from power stations – including an increasing amount of offshore and remote renewable generation – to homes and businesses. These costs are set by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and vary by region, with suppliers passing them on to customers mostly through standing charges.
The sharp rise in TNUoS charges for 2026/27 is mainly driven by a big increase in the amount of money needed to strengthen and expand the UK’s electricity transmission network.
NESO have significantly increased the Transmission Demand Residual (TDR) – the fixed part of the charge that every supply is charged – almost doubling it from about £3.8 billion to £7.5 billion in one year, reflecting major investment demands.
Several factors are driving these changes:
a) Major Investment in the Transmission Network
The need to reinforce and expand the national transmission network, particularly to support renewable and offshore generation, is one of the main reasons for the increase.
As the UK moves towards greener energy, these upgrades are necessary to ensure efficient electricity transmission.
b) RIIO-ET3 Price Control Allowances
Changes in the regulatory framework (the move into the RIIO‑T3 price control period) allow transmission companies to recover more of their costs through TNUoS, meaning these rising grid costs flow directly into customer standing charges from April 2026 onwards.
c) Adjustments to Charging Methodology
Changes to locational and residual charging will shift more of the cost recovery to fixed standing charges.
d) Ongoing Methodology Reforms
Reforms are underway to change how sites are banded and billed for TNUoS, which may further adjust charges for customers.
Increasing TNUoS charges supports the long-term strategy to fund the UK’s transition to a more reliable electricity system. Overall long-term outcomes will include:
The increases are influenced by locality and size of supply, so some businesses may see lower or higher increases. However Ofgem state that, on average, businesses may face between 5-15% increase in annual electricity costs due to the TNUoS changes.
Customers who agreed a contract with YGP before February 20th will see this increase in their daily standing charge from April 1st 2026. We will be communicating with all customers to detail specific increases.
Customers who agreed a contract after February 20th already have this increase included within the prices quoted.
Since TNUoS is set centrally by NESO and applies to all suppliers, energy prices will rise across all suppliers. This includes renewals and contracts agreed after supplies assess the impact of the published forecast and update their prices.
The long term goal is to stabilise energy bills for customers after several years of turbulant prices, however it’s likely bills will remain high for the short to mid-term.
We know the increase in energy bills put financial pressure on businesses, so YGP remain committed to offering as competitive rates as we possibly can for all existing and future customers.
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More detail on TNUoS charges from NESO: Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) Charges | National Energy System Operator
Other sources of information related to TNUoS: Welcome to Ofgem | Ofgem
The updated charges will be passed through on standing charges and apply to any bills from April 1st 2026 onwards.
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