# British industry paid £168 per megawatt hour (MWh) in 2024, more than double the cost for French firms at £69/MWh.

*business · news · 2026-04-13 · The Sunday Times*

## Key points

- OpenAI halted plans for a UK data centre due to Britain's high industrial energy costs.
- British industry pays £168/MWh for electricity, over four times the price in Texas.
- Policy levies add £61/MWh to UK industrial bills, compared to £2/MWh in France.
- South Korea builds nuclear power plants six times cheaper than the UK due to fewer regulations.
- Switching to a zonal electricity pricing system could significantly reduce power costs in industrial regions.

**Companies:** OpenAI
**Countries:** United Kingdom

[Read the full story on The Sunday Times](https://www.thetimes.com/business/economics/article/open-ai-uk-energy-costs-nuclear-wind-wvs36bwdw)

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