UK energy consumption: net imports adjusted
UK energy consumption: net imports adjusted stood at 3.39 Mtoe, annualised rate 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, seasonally adjusted and temperature corrected | |||||||||||
| Primary electricity — net imports | 3.39 | 2.35 | 3.34 | 2.17 | 3.08 | 1.41 | 1.89 | 2.79 | 1.56 | 2.27 | |
| Total | 156.91 | 162.04 | 158.12 | 158.78 | 166.03 | 165.55 | 159.9 | 163.08 | 162.56 | 169.32 |
Understanding UK energy consumption: net imports adjusted
Electrical energy traded across cross-border interconnectors linking the transmission network of the United Kingdom with external grids measures the physical net balance of imports over exports, adjusted for seasonal variances. The series is expressed in million tonnes of oil equivalent at an annualised rate, capturing electrical energy that crosses national boundaries. Unlike domestic generation metrics, this indicator reflects foreign electricity supplies utilised to balance domestic demand, excluding power generated within domestic plants.
Reading these figures requires recognising that net import balances fluctuate rapidly based on relative continental pricing, interconnector availability, and domestic generation shortfalls. A positive balance indicates reliance on external grids, while a negative balance shows the nation exporting surplus power. Analysts should compare these figures against domestic generation sibling rows to understand how interconnector flows substitute for or complement domestic energy production.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a positive net import figure indicate for electricity?
- It shows that physical electricity imports from external grids exceeded exports over the reporting period.
- Are transmission losses accounted for in interconnector trade data?
- The series measures physical energy flows across interconnectors, reflecting scheduled transfers between linked transmission systems.
- Why do net import figures experience sudden monthly shifts?
- Changes in wholesale electricity prices across neighbouring markets and interconnector maintenance outages heavily influence trade volumes.