National Grid in brief
- Rank: #62 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #4 of 6 in Energy & Utilities.
- WCRC Power Score: 64.44 out of 100.
- Founded: 1990, by Created from the Central Electricity Generating Board at electricity privatisation.
- Owner: National Grid plc, London, England.
- Leadership: Zoë Yujnovich, Chief Executive.
- Latest revenue: £17.7bn revenue (FY2026, year to Mar 2026, -3.8%), group revenue of National Grid plc, as per company filings.
What makes National Grid powerful
National Grid is the backbone of Britain's power system. It owns the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales, regional distribution networks in the Midlands, South West and Wales, and electricity and gas networks in New York and Massachusetts. As the UK and US electrify transport, heating and data centres, the value of those wires is rising.
In the year to March 2026 underlying operating profit rose 6% to 5.68 billion pounds and capital investment hit a record 11.6 billion pounds, up 18%. Chief executive Zoë Yujnovich has committed at least 70 billion pounds over the next five years to modernise and expand its networks, and the group has sharpened its focus by agreeing to sell Grain LNG and selling its US renewables business to Brookfield.
National Grid invested a record 11.6 billion pounds in its networks in the year to March 2026, up 18%.
Why National Grid ranks #62
National Grid ranks 62nd with a WCRC Power Score of 64.44, just behind Sage and ahead of Jet2. Digital and financial (70) is its best pillar, reflecting record capital investment of 11.6 billion pounds and a 70 billion pound five-year plan. Positioning and recall (66) and Sustainability and governance (66) are solid as it builds networks for electrification, while Product and innovation (64) is steady and Trust (60) holds it back, after the Heathrow substation fire and rising customer bills.
The Achilles' heel
National Grid's growth rests on spending tens of billions of pounds, funded partly by a large rights issue in 2024, and on regulators in Britain and the US letting it earn a fair return. Delays in connecting new generation, rising bills for customers and the 2025 Heathrow substation fire that shut the airport have all put its reliability and value for money under scrutiny.
The 2026 story
National Grid's FY2026 results on 14 May 2026 showed underlying operating profit up 6% to 5.68 billion pounds and record capital investment of 11.6 billion pounds, while gross revenue eased 4% to 17.7 billion pounds. Zoë Yujnovich, chief executive since late 2025, committed at least 70 billion pounds of investment over the five years to 2030/31. The group agreed to sell Grain LNG to Centrica and Energy Capital Partners for about 1.66 billion pounds and sold its renewables business to Brookfield.
Pillar profile
Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.
Versus its nearest rivals
Questions people ask
What rank is National Grid in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful Brands 2026?
National Grid ranks #62 of 100 in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 64.44 out of 100.
What makes National Grid powerful?
National Grid owns monopoly transmission and distribution networks on both sides of the Atlantic and is investing record sums as electricity demand rises.
What is National Grid's revenue?
£17.7bn revenue (FY2026, year to Mar 2026, -3.8%), group revenue of National Grid plc, as per company filings.
Who founded and owns National Grid?
National Grid was founded in 1990 by Created from the Central Electricity Generating Board at electricity privatisation. It is owned by National Grid plc and based in London, England.
Who leads National Grid?
Zoë Yujnovich, Chief Executive.
What is National Grid's biggest challenge?
Its huge investment plan depends on regulators allowing fair returns and on delivering projects on time, while customers face higher bills.
Also featured in
- Most powerful Energy & Utilities brands
- Biggest British Brands by Revenue
- Most powerful brands in England
Key facts
| Brand | National Grid |
|---|---|
| Company / owner | National Grid plc |
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder(s) | Created from the Central Electricity Generating Board at electricity privatisation |
| Leadership | Zoë Yujnovich, Chief Executive |
| Latest revenue | £17.7bn revenue (FY2026, year to Mar 2026, -3.8%), group revenue of National Grid plc, as per company filings |
| Sector | Energy & Utilities |
| Website | nationalgrid.com |
| Home country | United Kingdom |
Sources
- Revenue figure published by National Grid plc
- Company website, official announcements and press releases
- Published interviews and statements by the leadership
- WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data
