British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements (BETTA)

Until April 2005 the electricity wholesale market in Scotland operated under different arrangements from those in England and Wales.  BETTA introduced a single wholesale electricity market for Great Britain with a single transmission system operation (National Grid) independent of generation and supply. Prior to BETTA the transmission system was operated in Scotland by Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy who were the major generator and supply companies.

BETTA is essentially an extension of the previous arrangements (NETA) which had existed in England and Wales to Scotland. BETTA will promote competition, and bring a number of important benefits, particularly for Scottish consumers and generators.  The legislation which underpinned BETTA was delivered in the Energy Act 2004.