NG · Utilities · one day
National Grid (NG): news on Thursday 22 October 2026
News from the 24 hours to Thursday morning, 22 October 2026.
Tone of the day
What the score means. Each score rates how good or bad the news was for the company, from −10 (clearly bad) to +10 (clearly good). 0 is neutral, and anything beyond ±6 is strong and rare. It rates the coverage, not the share price.
Why it scored this way
Coverage was mixed, with reputational pressure from accusations of a cover-up over a near-blackout and reports of blackout risk being monitored in Microsoft Word. UBS keeping its Sell rating added to the negative lean, partly offset by drone inspection work, community funding and higher capital investment.
What drove it
- near-blackout cover-up claims
- UBS Sell rating
- drone inspections and investment
Around this day
| Day | Tone | Headlines |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | +6.3 | 13 |
| Sat 17 Oct | +3.7 | 10 |
| Sun 18 Oct | +4.5 | 3 |
| Mon 19 Oct | +4.5 | 5 |
| Tue 20 Oct | −5.5 | 6 |
| Wed 21 Oct | −2.7 | 20 |
| Thu 22 Oct | −3.7 | 11 |
| Fri 23 Oct | +4.0 | 14 |
| Sat 24 Oct | +4.2 | 12 |
| Sun 25 Oct | −5.2 | 2 |
| Mon 26 Oct | +2.0 | 3 |
8 stories · 11 headlines · strongest first
Utilities on 22 OctoberFTSE 100 that day| Tone | What the article reported, and why it scored that way | |
|---|---|---|
| Grid staff raise blackout risk concerns −7.12 headlines today · 7 in all, since 20 October · The Telegraph and Times report on blackout risk monitoring and a cover-up accusation over a near-blackout. | ||
| −10.0 | Grid operator faces cover-up allegation about a near-blackout; reputational damage. | |
| −6.7 | Blackout risk monitored with Word; embarrassing for grid operator. | |
| UBS keeps Sell on National Grid −6.12 headlines today · 9 in all, since 21 October · UBS keeps its Sell rating with a 1,110p target. | ||
| −6.7 | UBS keeps Sell rating with target below share price. | |
| −6.7 | UBS maintains its Sell recommendation before trading begins. | |
| National Grid tests using drones and artificial intelligence to inspect transformers +5.42 headlines today · Team UAV has finished 500 drone checks of transformers, while National Grid is testing the use of drones and artificial intelligence for inspections. | ||
| +5.8 | National Grid trialling drone and AI inspections; innovation story. | |
| +5.0 | National Grid Electricity Distribution has had drone inspections finished by Team UAV. | |
| Ofgem funds Bramford–Twinstead grid upgrade +6.31 headline today · 2 in all, since 21 October · The first funding round linked to the Bramford to Twinstead scheme is supporting local community projects. | ||
| +6.7 | Community funding from Bramford to Twinstead project; positive local relations. | |
| National Grid capital investment rose 21.3% +5.01 headline today · AD HOC NEWS reports capital investment up 21.3 percent. | ||
| +5.0 | Capital investment rose over 21 percent. | |
| Council and National Grid say sorry for traffic light gridlock −4.61 headline today · 2 in all, since 21 October · National Grid issues update after a stuck-on-red traffic light caused Stourport delays. | ||
| −3.3 | A traffic light jammed at red led to hold-ups; minor operational issue. | |
| National Grid issues winter bill forecast for US customers −0.71 headline today · 26 in all, since 15 October · National Grid's winter forecast raises questions of high bills for Upstate NY customers. | ||
| −2.5 | Winter forecast raising concern over high customer bills in New York. | |
| National Grid share price movements +2.11 headline today · 44 in all, since 30 September · A technical analysis describes a stable share price, with buyers providing support around GBX1,201. | ||
| +1.7 | Technical analysis shows steady price with buyer support. | |
Each article has its own score. The lines are our own summary; follow the source link to read the article itself.
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