The leader of the UK's Liberal Democrat party is opposing a Tesla subsidiary being granted a license to supply electricity in Britain, calling Elon Musk a threat to national security.

Tesla Energy Ventures, a subsidiary of Tesla, made an [1]application [PDF] in July to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority for an electricity supply licence to serve domestic and non-domestic premises in the UK.

Elon Musk's electric buggy-maker has been playing on the margins of the power business with residential solar panels and battery systems for home users (Powerwall) and utitilites (Megapack) for years. It got into the retail electric provider business a few years ago with [2]Tesla Electric , in Texas. The company does not operate power plants itself, but rather resells energy from the grid while providing management tools for end users, and allowing those with home solar panels and batteries to sell their excess power back to the grid.

[3]

The company did not explain exactly what it's planning in the UK, but it's presumably along these same lines. Nonetheless, it's facing resistance. [4]The Independent reported this week that more than 8,000 people have asked energy market regulator Ofgem to block the move, following Tesla CEO Elon Musk's attempts to interfere in British politics last year.

[5]

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Ofgem declined to confirm this when contacted by The Register , as the Tesla Energy Ventures application is still being processed.

Now, LibDem leader Sir Ed Davey has [7]written to the UK Energy Secretary asking him to ensure that the application is blocked, referring to Musk as "an individual who poses a threat to our national security."

[8]

Allowing Tesla to sell electricity directly to households and businesses would be "a gravely concerning move considering Elon Musk's repeated interference in UK politics," Davey, who is the Parliamentary representative for Kingston and Surbiton in London, says in his letter.

He refers to comments from Musk describing civil war in the UK as "inevitable," during the [9]unrest in Southport last year, and accuses him of peddling misinformation. He also points to a posting on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, where Musk asked his followers if America should "liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government."

Davey is perhaps best known in Britain these days for [10]madcap antics during last year's general election campaign, when he undertook publicity stunts involving paddleboarding, wheelbarrow racing, and bungee jumping from a crane.

[11]Tesla bets on bot smoke screen as political and market realities bite

[12]Musk's antics and distractions are backfiring as Tesla's car business stalls

[13]Struggling to sell EVs, Tesla pivots to slinging burgers

[14]Tesla FSD ignores school bus lights and hits 'child' dummy in staged demo

The LibDem leader also notes Musk's actions in relation to the Starlink satellite service, which is provided by another of his companies, SpaceX. Musk deliberately intervened on at least one occasion to [15]cut off the service in Ukraine , which the country's armed forces were using, at a critical juncture in its fight against Russia.

Musk is alleged to be friendly with and have regular contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and two US senators last year [16]called for an investigation into Musk's links with President Putin and his top aides. The implication is that Musk is not to be trusted with any kind of critical infrastructure or service.

[17]

"At the very least, can you confirm the government will exercise its powers to carry out stringent national security checks, as established by the National Security and Investment Act 2021, before any electricity supply licence to Elon Musk's company is granted?" Davey asks finally.

Based on the Texas business, it seems likely Tesla is seeking to become a retail provider rather than an electricity producer in the UK market, and so would not have control over the actual energy supply. We asked Tesla for comment and will update if we get an answer. ®

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[1] https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-07/Tesla-Energy-Ventures-Limited-AdvertElectricitySupply-signed.pdf

[2] https://www.tesla.com/support/tesla-electric

[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aKjoeN7OWsXPNMCfV7KdNAAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0

[4] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tesla-energy-uk-homes-ofgem-elon-musk-b2810563.html

[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aKjoeN7OWsXPNMCfV7KdNAAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aKjoeN7OWsXPNMCfV7KdNAAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[7] https://x.com/EdwardJDavey/status/1958795919240933805

[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aKjoeN7OWsXPNMCfV7KdNAAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_Kingdom_riots

[10] https://www.politico.eu/article/19-crazy-ed-davey-campaign-stunts-and-1-serious-moment/

[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/24/opinion_q2_tesla_bets_on_bot_smoke/

[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/03/elon_musk_tesla_deliveries_distraction/

[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/22/tesla_fast_food/

[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/30/selfdriving_tesla_accident/

[15] https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/07/musk_biography_excerpt/

[16] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0l3wl76gzo

[17] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aKjoeN7OWsXPNMCfV7KdNAAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/