Dogger Bank A transmission exemption extended to 2026

Dogger Bank A has been given one more year to operate under a special permission instead of a full transmission licence. A statutory instrument (SI 2025/1196) made on 14 November 2025, laid before Parliament on 19 November 2025, and coming into force on 18 December 2025, moves the exemption end date to 18 December 2026.

Here’s the quick refresher we all need for class or staffroom discussion. In Great Britain, moving electricity on the high‑voltage network usually requires a transmission licence. That duty sits in section 4(1)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989. Section 5 allows the Secretary of State to grant specific, time‑limited exemptions-useful when a project is finishing its grid connection and the permanent owner of those assets is still being arranged.

The project company is Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 1 Projco Limited. Earlier in 2025 it received an exemption that would have expired on 19 December 2025. The new Order changes that single date to 18 December 2026. It applies across England, Wales and Scotland, reflecting the cross‑border nature of the offshore grid and onshore landing points.

Why does a single year matter? Offshore wind farms often build their own offshore cables and substations first, then transfer them to a licensed Offshore Transmission Owner (an OFTO) after commissioning. That handover is technical and legal work rolled into one. A short extension prevents a cliff‑edge in compliance while the transfer is completed and the project continues within the rules.

If you’re teaching this, picture the motorway. Generators make the cars; the transmission network is the motorway. Most drivers need a licence. An exemption is a tightly scoped, time‑limited pass for one specific journey while the permanent arrangements are finalised. It’s not a shortcut around safety; it’s a controlled way to finish the trip.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero describes this as a temporary measure. Because it’s short‑term and targeted, officials have not produced a full impact assessment, and they expect no significant effects on businesses, charities or the public sector. If you want the formal reasoning, the Explanatory Memorandum sits alongside the Order on legislation.gov.uk.

Devolution matters here. When a transmission exemption affects Scotland, the UK Government must consult the Scottish Ministers. The Order confirms that consultation took place, which is a good reminder that energy infrastructure in Great Britain relies on coordination across administrations as well as across cables.

For Dogger Bank A, the practical effect is breathing space. The project company can continue to operate specified transmission assets without holding a licence until 18 December 2026, giving time to complete the OFTO tender and transfer. If the handover happens earlier, the exemption simply ceases to be needed.

For learners tracking policy design, this is how law meets engineering in real time. Parliament sets a general rule-transmission is licensed to protect consumers and the system. Ministers can, case by case, issue narrow exemptions so major projects don’t stall because procurement timetables and construction schedules don’t always align perfectly.

Keep these dates handy for revision or briefing: made on 14 November 2025, laid before Parliament on 19 November 2025, in force from 18 December 2025, with the new exemption end date of 18 December 2026. The Order is signed by Minister of State Michael Shanks for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

If you’re following the offshore wind build‑out, watch for progress on the OFTO transfer for Dogger Bank A and whether similar, time‑limited orders appear for other projects. That’s where we can see how policy tools keep delivery on track without loosening consumer protections.