UK power plants lined up to command record high energy prices this decade

Construction at Hinkley Point C. The key energy project is years late and billions over its budget. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

Britain’s power stations are to command record prices to keep the lights on later this decade, amid concerns over a lack of electricity supply to meet a boom in demand.

Plants secured an all-time high price of £65 a kilowatt per year for 2027-28 in a “capacity market” auction to supply power, outstripping the £63 per kW a year planned for 2026-2027, National Grid’s electricity system operator said.