The UK\u2019s shadow energy minister Claire Coutinho has called out the National Energy System Operator (Neso) for allegedly avoiding having to keep an \u201caudit trail or records of how key operational decisions are made\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the Information Commissioner dated 7 July and posted today on Coutinho\u2019s socials, she requests an investigation into the issue, claiming she was contacted by a whistleblower working for Neso.<\/p>\n
\u201cA whistleblower in the heart of our electricity grid operator has contacted me with serious allegations that the Neso has been hiding information about how securely our grid is being run,\u201d Coutinho said.<\/p>\n
The situation began in June, according to Coutinho, when she raised concerns in Parliament about the security of the UK\u2019s electricity grid. She alleges she was told by Ed Miliband that she was \u201cscaremongering\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince then I have been contacted by a whistleblower within our grid operator, the Neso,\u201d Coutinho continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey allege that operators are being instructed to hide information that shows the grid is not being operated securely.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorse, they allege that Corporate Affairs interfered with operational decisions to stabilise the grid \u2013 risking blackouts to protect Neso\u2019s reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coutinho brought the allegations to the House of Commons and claims Miliband \u201cdoubled down\u201d on calling this scaremongering when quizzed on the situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis government is asleep at the wheel. They must urgently investigate these allegations,\u201d Coutinho said in Parliament.<\/p>\n
She further stated the whistleblower alleges that \u201cduring periods of system stress, senior Neso managers have instructed operators in the control room to keep \u2018live documents\u2019 with no version history\u201d.<\/p>\n
Coutinho alleges this is done to make sure there are no records of how key operational decisions are made and \u201censure that full records are not preserved for the purposes of Freedom of Information (FoI)\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cConcerningly, whistleblowers allege that this approach was in place during an incident on Tuesday 23 June 2026, where the frequency of the system became unstable and fell below Neso\u2019s normal operating frequency limit of 49.80Hz,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a serious matter because if such frequency instability is sustained, blackouts can occur.<\/p>\n
Staff at Neso\u2019s Corporate Affairs Directorate allegedly interfered in operational decisions to urge that certain operational stabilising actions were not taken, in order to avoid damage to Neso\u2019s reputation.<\/p>\n
\u201cDue to the use of \u2018live documents;, these interventions were not recorded for public record.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coutinho claims this is of serious consequence as the UK\u2019s electricity grid is becoming \u201cincreasingly unstable and difficult to manage\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said that decisions are appearing to be taken within Neso to avoid the disclosure of information that could be used to determine whether the operator \u201cis capable of maintaining operability within the Security and Quality of Supply Standard (SQSS)\u201d.<\/p>\n
In response to these allegations, Coutinho is demanding government:<\/p>\n
Launch an inquiry into Neso\u2019s records management practices, with a particular focus on events in the control room during times of system stress
\nInterview operation managers within the control room to establish whether management are requiring them to hide information that shows the electricity system is not being run securely
\nTake action to ensure that Neso complies with all information transparency regulations<\/p>\n
Neso has issued a statement to NCE contending Coutinho\u2019s claim.<\/p>\n
A Neso spokesperson said: \u201cDespite unprecedented weather conditions across Great Britain and Europe in June, the GB electricity system remained secure and no customers were disconnected. We will continue our analysis of operational data and implement any lessons learned.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll operational decisions are taken by authorised personnel within established procedures and it would be false to say otherwise.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeso does not instruct its employees to avoid retaining records.\u00a0 Our priority is the secure operation of the GB electricity system.\u201d<\/p>\n
The operator further stated that high temperatures across the UK and continental Europe, alongside lower wind generation and reduced availability from some generation assets, created tighter electricity margins than would normally be expected this time of year.<\/p>\n
As a precaution, Neso issued Electricity Margin Notices (EMNs) to encourage additional generation capacity to make itself available to the market. The market responded and electricity supplies remained secure throughout and the EMNs were subsequently withdrawn.<\/p>\n
An EMN is a standard operational tool used by Neso\u2019s control room. It is designed to notify the market that additional generation capacity may be required and encourage market participants to make any available capacity known, according to Neso. It does not mean electricity supplies are at risk and is not a warning of power cuts.<\/p>\n
Alongside the EMNs, Neso also claimed it used a range of operational tools to maintain security of supply, including coordinating with neighbouring European transmission system operators through existing arrangements.<\/p>\n