Musk's UK Energy Expansion Plans Face Opposition

Elon Musk's plans to launch Tesla's own electricity provider in the UK are being opposed by thousands of activists, with campaign group Best for Britain collecting over 8,000 letters urging regulator Ofgem to block the move. The group argues that Musk's history of promoting misinformation and supporting Donald Trump disqualifies him from entering the UK energy market. Ofgem is accepting submissions on Tesla's application until Friday.

Elon Musk's plans to launch Tesla's own electricity provider in the UK are being met with significant opposition from thousands of activists. Campaign group Best for Britain has collected over 8,000 letters urging regulator Ofgem to block the move. The group argues that Musk's history of promoting misinformation and supporting Donald Trump disqualifies him from entering the UK energy market [1][2].

Tesla has applied for a license to supply electricity to homes and businesses in England, Scotland, and Wales, aiming to start operations as early as next year. However, the company's billionaire owner's political activity has drawn objections from the public. Musk's support for Donald Trump and far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been cited as a reason for the opposition [1][2].

Best for Britain's chief executive Naomi Smith has urged the public to make their views known to Ofgem before Friday. She stated, "British people are rightly against Musk being anywhere near our electricity supply and that’s why we are encouraging more people to make their views known before Friday by using our online tool to write to Ofgem and say they oppose this power grab – it only takes two minutes" [1][2].

The application comes amid a backdrop of waning demand for Tesla's electric vehicles across Europe. Industry figures showed an almost 60% plunge in the number of new Tesla registrations in the UK in July, compared with a year earlier [3]. This decline coincides with Tesla's application for a UK energy license, which could provide an alternative growth path for the company.

Tesla has been involved in the UK energy market since 2020, when it was granted a license to be an electricity generator. The company already sells electric vehicles, solar panels, and home battery systems across the UK. If approved, the new license would enable Tesla to offer electricity to both homes and businesses, positioning it against longstanding UK energy providers [4].

Ofgem will decide whether to grant Tesla a license to supply electricity based on submissions from the public. The regulator's licensing process focuses on operational and financial suitability rather than political alignment, but Musk's profile means public and political reactions could play a role in how the move is received [4].

References:
[1] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tesla-energy-uk-homes-ofgem-elon-musk-b2810563.html
[2] https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/ofgem-tesla-tommy-robinson-best-donald-trump-b1243656.html
[3] https://www.bestforbritain.org/petition-elon-musk-uk-energy-power-grab
[4] https://evmagazine.com/news/what-could-teslas-uk-energy-license-mean-for-ev-charging