If the EU cannot be a pay master for a North Sea grid might it use its regulatory powers to will the project into existence? The final report of the North Sea Grid project suggests sufficient EU regulatory norms are already in place. However, it was noted that “the fact that the barriers are addressed at EU level does not mean that they are already completely resolved. Transferring EU legislation into national law takes time and national amendments are possible” [134]. Moreover, issues such as responsibility for grid access, rules governing the topology of cabling, compensation payments for curtailment due to over supply of electricity, as well as subsidies for capacity and rules governing transmission charges, all remain largely decided at the national level.