UK energy consumption: net electricity imports
UK energy consumption: net electricity imports stood at 0.28 in Jul 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Energy production and consumption table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1997 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Energy production and consumption table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy consumption | |||||||||||
| Primary electricity — net imports | 0.28 | 0.2 | 0.28 | 0.18 | 0.26 | 0.12 | 0.16 | 0.23 | 0.13 | 0.19 | |
| Total | 10.77 | 11.16 | 11.71 | 12.5 | 14.92 | 15.32 | 16.65 | 15.73 | 14.73 | 13.68 |
Understanding UK energy consumption: net electricity imports
Physical net balance of electrical energy traded across interconnectors linking the transmission system of the United Kingdom with external grid networks measures electricity imports minus electricity exports. The series records the net physical flow of electrical energy entering domestic high-voltage cables from neighbouring jurisdictions, excluding internal transmission losses. Unlike domestic generation series, this metric captures cross-border electrical transfers driven by international wholesale price differentials and continental grid balancing.
Reading these monthly trade balances requires accounting for interconnector maintenance outages, cable capacity expansions, and fluctuating continental power prices. Early net import figures are routinely revised as cross-border metering reconciliations and commercial settlement data are finalised. Comparing equivalent periods across years helps identify structural shifts in energy dependency and interconnector utilisation.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a positive net import figure indicate?
- It means physical electricity imports from interconnected foreign grids exceeded electricity exports during the month.
- Are transmission losses along the interconnector cables included?
- The series measures net energy delivered across the border boundary, excluding internal grid losses.
- Why do net import volumes change frequently from month to month?
- Fluctuating wholesale electricity prices across Europe and interconnector maintenance schedules drive rapid shifts in trading volumes.