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UK to cut energy bills for homes near new power pylons
Eligible households within 500 metres of overhead transmission line upgrades could receive savings of up to £2,500 over 10 years as the government pushes more than 40 grid projects.
Households in the UK that live within 500 metres of new or upgraded overhead transmission lines will receive discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years, or about £250 per year, the Guardian Business reported. The payments are intended for communities that “host” new electricity grid infrastructure as the country upgrades power networks to support a shift away from fossil fuels.
The government said the discounts will apply near more than 40 locations across Great Britain as part of the biggest electricity grid upgrade drive since the 1960s. It confirmed the approach after ruling out proposals to route new cables underground, and said research commissioned by the Department for Energy and Net Zero found pylons remain the most cost effective way to upgrade Britain’s electricity network.
Energy minister Michael Shanks said the multibillion-pound upgrades are paid for through household energy bills and are meant to deliver secure, homegrown energy while unlocking economic growth. The government also said it expects grid companies to spend up to £77 billion over five years to build new networks and power lines to move renewable electricity generated offshore or in remote areas to urban demand centers.