Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla, is facing a wave of public opposition as he seeks to expand his company’s reach into the United Kingdom’s energy market. Tesla’s recent application to supply electricity to homes and businesses across England, Scotland, and Wales has sparked a heated debate, drawing in thousands of activists and putting the nation’s energy regulator, Ofgem, in the spotlight.
At the heart of the controversy is a campaign led by Best for Britain, a group well-known for its past opposition to Brexit and its advocacy for internationalist causes. According to The Independent and The Telegraph, the organization has collected over 8,000 letters from concerned citizens urging Ofgem to reject Tesla’s application. The objections, they say, go beyond business competition—they’re about who is fit to control such a vital public service.
Best for Britain’s chief executive, Naomi Smith, hasn’t minced words. In a statement quoted by Evening Standard and ChronicleLive, she declared, “We’ve all had a front row seat to Musk’s malign influence, turning Twitter into an incubator for right-wing hate, promoting baseless conspiracy theories and helping Trump secure a second term as US president – something that continues to change our world in profoundly dangerous ways.” Smith continued, “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.”
It’s not just rhetoric. As of this week, 8,462 individuals have used Best for Britain’s digital platform to submit formal objections to Ofgem, according to Standard and ChronicleLive. The group’s online campaign features a pre-written letter for signatories, stating, “Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter (now X) has enabled the rapid spread of misinformation, hatred and conspiracy theories in the UK and across the wider world.” The letter urges Ofgem to “reject Tesla’s application and protect our country from the influence of such a volatile individual.”
So why all the fuss now? Tesla’s application comes at a challenging time for the company in Europe. Industry figures cited by EV Magazine and Standard show that new Tesla vehicle registrations in the UK plummeted nearly 60% in July 2025 compared with the same month the previous year—down from 2,462 to just 987. This sharp decline in demand for Tesla’s electric cars has coincided with the company’s push to diversify its business model, seeking new growth opportunities in energy supply after years of selling electric vehicles, solar panels, and home battery systems in the UK.
Tesla is no stranger to the UK energy market. The company has held a license as an electricity generator since 2020, and its solar energy and battery storage businesses have already found a foothold among British consumers. Now, with its application to become a full-fledged electricity supplier, Tesla aims to compete directly with established providers like Octopus Energy and British Gas. If approved, Tesla’s new license would allow it to offer electricity to both homes and businesses, potentially integrating with thousands of existing Tesla Powerwall batteries to create a “virtual power plant” that could help manage peak demand and offer cheaper charging for Tesla vehicle owners.
But the opposition isn’t just about business strategy. Best for Britain and its supporters have pointed to Musk’s political activities as a key reason for their campaign. The group’s letter specifically references Musk’s support for former US president Donald Trump and far-right activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), arguing that such associations are “unacceptable and disqualifying qualities for entrance into our energy markets.” According to The Telegraph, the group also criticizes Musk’s government efficiency department, nicknamed “Doge,” and frames Tesla’s bid as an “energy power grab.”
The campaign has also attracted attention for its own political connections. Best for Britain, which describes itself as an “internationalist” organization, was previously funded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros—a fact that Musk himself has highlighted in the past, accusing Soros of funding anti-Tesla protests. The group, however, maintains that its opposition to Musk’s plans is rooted in concerns over misinformation, political extremism, and the safeguarding of essential public services.
Ofgem, for its part, is now tasked with reviewing the flood of public submissions before making a decision on Tesla’s application. The regulator’s licensing process typically focuses on operational and financial suitability, rather than the political views or affiliations of company owners. However, as EV Magazine notes, the high-profile nature of Musk—and the public’s strong reactions—mean that the regulator’s decision is likely to be scrutinized from all sides.
Tesla’s ambitions in the UK mirror its recent moves in the United States, where the company has been supplying electricity in Texas for the past three years. The integration of energy supply with its other products is part of a broader vision to create a seamless, tech-driven ecosystem for energy consumption and storage. If successful in the UK, Tesla could set a precedent for similar expansions across Europe and beyond.
Yet, the backlash underscores the challenges facing global tech giants as they seek to enter new markets—especially those as sensitive as national energy supply. The debate has brought together a mix of political, social, and economic concerns, from the influence of American billionaires on British infrastructure to the role of social media in shaping public discourse.
The deadline for public submissions to Ofgem is Friday, August 22, 2025. After that, the regulator will weigh the arguments and decide whether to grant Tesla the license it seeks. The outcome could shape not only the future of Tesla in the UK, but also the broader conversation about who controls the levers of essential public services in an era of rapid technological change and political polarization.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Ofgem—and on the thousands of voices who have made their objections known. The decision, when it comes, will be watched closely by supporters and critics alike, both in Britain and around the world.
