Ofgem has launched an investigation into National Grid Electricity Transmission and Scottish Power Transmission’s delivery and operation of the Western HVDC interconnector link.
The Western link is a £1.3bn subsea cable transporting electricity between Scotland, Wales and England.
The project was undertaken by a joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and Scottish Power Transmission.
Ofgem’s investigation will review the performance of the JV in delivering the cable.
It will consider whether the late delivery means the companies “breached special licence condition 6I, which specifies the expected delivery date of the Western HVDC subsea cable”, Ofgem said.
In addition, the investigation will “consider compliance with standard licence condition D (provision of transmission services) and section 9(2) of the Electricity Act 1989 (provision of economical, efficient and co-ordinated services)”, the UK energy regulator said.
The investigation will also examine potential breaches relating to the operation of the cable, it added
However, Ofgem said the “opening of this investigation does not imply that we have made any findings about non-compliance by National Grid Electricity Transmission or Scottish Power Transmission”.
Scottish Power Transmission is a subsidiary of Iberdrola.