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Heathrow substation fire caused by moisture in electrics: Report

WEST LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, JUL 2 – Ofgem opened an enforcement investigation into National Grid after a preventable fault detected in 2018 caused a transformer fire that disrupted over 270,000 passenger journeys at Heathrow.

  • A fire broke out on March 20, 2025, at National Grid's 275kV substation near Heathrow Airport, forcing the airport's closure on March 21.
  • The fire resulted from a catastrophic failure of a high voltage transformer bushing caused by moisture ingress first detected in 2018 but left unaddressed.
  • Forensic analysis by National Grid and London Fire Brigade confirmed that moisture caused an electrical fault that led to arcing, igniting the oil and causing the fire.
  • Energy Minister Ed Miliband described the findings as "deeply concerning," while Ofgem has initiated an enforcement probe into potential licence violations related to infrastructure maintenance shortcomings.
  • The report prompted 28 recommendations to enhance Britain's energy system resilience, while Heathrow and National Grid committed to preventing similar disruptions in the future.
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The UK's energy system operator points to "obsolete regulation" and "inadequate safety mechanisms" after the 21 March fire at one of the world's largest airports.

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neso.energy broke the news in on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
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