Andy Burnham’s Labour government has confirmed a scheme to provide financial relief to households situated within 500 metres of new or upgraded energy pylons and associated grid infrastructure. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced 43 projects eligible under this initiative, which aims to support affected residents with electricity bill reductions.
Under the “bills discount scheme,” those living close to the recently planned overhead transmission lines and eligible infrastructure will receive discounts on their electricity bills starting in the first half of next year. Over a ten-year period, households could benefit from up to £2,500 in savings.
The initial projects include transmission upgrades from North Humber to High Marnham in the Midlands, Pentir to Trawsfynydd in North Wales, and substations at Coalburn, Mark Hill, Branxton, and Sanquhar in Scotland.
Most qualifying households will have the discount applied automatically to their electricity bills twice a year through their energy suppliers. However, some customers, such as those with commercial meters, may need to apply to receive the benefit.
This scheme complements recent government measures such as a VAT reduction on electricity bills. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces complex decisions regarding the approval of new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, notably the Jackdaw gasfield.
The proposed Jackdaw development, owned by Adura-a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor-has undergone an environmental impact assessment revealing it would create just 27 direct full-time jobs. Adura stated that their projects, including Jackdaw and Rosebank, are among the lowest emissions developments on the UK continental shelf (UKCS), with production emissions intensity potentially half the UKCS average and significantly lower than imported liquefied natural gas.
Despite these claims, critics such as Tessa Khan, executive director of the campaign group Uplift, have challenged the assessment. Khan argued that Rosebank’s emissions would amount to approximately 70% of the UK’s annual carbon dioxide equivalent, emphasising the climate impact and suggesting the development primarily serves oil export rather than domestic energy supply.