Energy is an essential part of a modern economy. By providing a reliable and secure supply of gas and electricity to our millions of customers, we allow others to create economic value. In addition, we are a major buyer of goods and services, and the money we pay to our suppliers and employees injects over £1.5 billion into the economy each year (based on an estimate of supplier spending of £1 billion and employee costs of £0.4 billion). We can therefore have a significant influence on the local economy, through such activities as employment, job creation, innovation and training.

In creating the essential infrastructure required to serve our different sites around the country, we also can provide direct benefits to the local community - for example, we have developed access roads to sites which are now used by local farmers.