Contracted demand offers in the UK grid connection queue surged from 41 GW in November 2024 to 125 GW by June 2025. Data centres account for roughly 73 GW of active pipeline capacity in the queue, with demand applications totaling at least 80 GW per the Ofgem press release. "Where speculative projects take up space in the queue, they can delay other schemes and create uncertainty about future network needs." Ofgem is separately considering requiring data centres to curtail power during grid stress periods, a proposal from an earlier consultation not part of this July 29 announcement. Together, the two consultations frame a regulatory posture that treats data centres as large, manageable loads rather than passive grid consumers.