A new government scheme will pay around 100,000 households £2,500 over 10 years under the scheme which is not means-tested
A new government scheme will pay thousands of people £250 a year for 10 years – and it does not depend on their income. The Energy Department on Wednesday announced 43 locations which are “expected” to be the first to receive discounts on their electricity bills.
Under the proposals, people living within 500 metres of new or upgraded overhead transmission lines could receive £2,500 over a 10-year period – and the eligibility depends on where they live and not what their income is. Annual payments of approximately £250 will commence next year, with The Energy Department (Desnz) outlining the initial schemes likely to qualify.
According to Desnz these will span England, Scotland and Wales and are anticipated to cover more than 100,000 households based on a Government impact assessment from earlier this year. Revealing the locations expected to benefit, Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Upgrading Britain’s electricity grid is a vital part of how we deliver secure, homegrown energy and unlock economic growth across the country.
“It is a moment of national renewal – upgrading what was built largely in the 1960s for the modern age to bring down electricity bills for households across the country. It’s vital we build again as a country and we are determined those communities which host pylons should benefit, which is why we’re bringing down the energy bills of those hosting this vital national infrastructure.”
The majority of the nation’s electricity grid was constructed in the 1960s, necessitating crucial upgrades to connect new sources of electricity generation, bolster energy security and deliver a more cost-effective energy system for billpayers, says the government. Individuals will only qualify for the discounts once projects have obtained all necessary consents and main construction works have commenced, reports Yorkshire Live.
Projects where construction began on or after 10 March 2025 will be eligible. Most qualifying households will automatically receive the discount on their electricity bill every six months via their energy supplier. However, some households may need to apply – such as those with commercial meters.
Households can anticipate further information in the first half of next year, when they will be directly contacted by their energy supplier or Ofgem if they are eligible.
The complete list of expected locations
England
National Grid Electricity Transmission:
- Bramford to Twinstead – East Anglia
- Norwich to Tilbury – East Anglia, and East of England
- Eastern Green Link 3 – converter station – East of England
- Eastern Green Link 4 – converter station – East of England
- Sea Link – converter station – East Anglia
- Grimsby to Walpole – Yorkshire and the Humber, and East of England
- North Humber to High Marnham – Midlands
- Brinsworth to High Marnham – Yorkshire and the Humber, and the Midlands
- Chesterfield to Willington – Midlands
- North London Reinforcement – London/ South of England
Scotland
SSEN Transmission:
- Banniskirk Hub 400 kV substation and HVDC converter station – North Scotland
- Cambushinnie 400 kV substation – North, and central Scotland
- Fort Augustus Substation 400 kV Upgrade – North Scotland
- Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400 kV overhead line – North and North West Scotland
- Beauly – Peterhead 400 kV overhead line – North, and North East Scotland
- Carnaig 400 kV substation – North Scotland
- Hurlie 400 kV Substation – North East Scotland
- Kintore – Tealing 400 kV overhead line – North East Scotland
- New Fanellan 400 kV substation and Converter Station – North Scotland
- Creag Dhubh – Dalmally 275 kV overhead line – West Scotland
- Edinbane substation – West Scotland
- Broadford substation – West Scotland
- Skye 132 kV overhead line reinforcement – West Scotland
- Netherton Hub – North East Scotland
- Tealing – Westfield 400 kV overhead line – Central, and East Scotland
- Bingally 400 kV Substation – North Scotland
- Greens (New Deer 2) 400 kV substation – North East Scotland
- Lewis Hub – West Scotland
- Emmock 400 kV Substation – North East Scotland
- Crarae 275 kV Substation – West Scotland
SP Energy Networks:
- Coalburn Substation – Central Scotland
- Mark Hill Substation– South West Scotland
- Stranoch OHL and Substation – South West Scotland
- Chirmorie – South West Scotland
- Branxton Substation – South East Scotland
- Sanquhar Substation- South Scotland
- Denny to Wishaw 400 kV Reinforcement (DWNO) – Central Scotland, and South Scotland
- Eastern Subsea HVDC Link from Westfield to South Humber (TGDC) (EGL4) – East of Scotland
- Kincardine North – Tealing 400 kV Substation (TKUP) – East of Scotland
- Kincardine North 400 kV Substation (LWUP) – East of Scotland
- Kincardine North – Wishaw 400 kV Reinforcement (DWUP) – Central Scotland and East of Scotland
- Gala North – Harker Area 400 kV (CMN4) – Scottish Borders
Wales
National Grid Electricity Transmission
- Pentir to Trawsfynydd – North Wales