Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to unveil plans that could see households living near new electricity pylons and substations potentially receiving reductions of up to £1,000 off their energy bills for a decade. The plans come as part of a wider effort to upgrade the UK’s electricity network, which is needed to facilitate thousands of new vehicle charging points. However, these upgrades often get held up by bureaucracy and local objections during the planning process.
The Autumn Statement due on Wednesday will detail the latest government spending priorities in the lead up to the next general election. The Treasury has confirmed that the discount scheme will form part of the Statement, but has not identified how the financial incentive will be financed. There is also no information on the criteria households will need to meet in order to receive the maximum payout.
In 2019, the British government pledged to reach net zero by 2050 through clean energy solutions and investment in green infrastructure. However, upgrading the country’s electricity network to better connect to renewable energy sources is a long and complex process, with new transmission lines taking up to 14 years to develop. The government is aiming to halve this timeline.
Under the proposed plan, nationally significant low-carbon energy infrastructure will be designated as a “critical national priority” requiring local planning officers to support building projects. The idea of households affected by new pylons or powerlines receiving monetary compensation for disruptions has been previously recommended by a government-commissioned report
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More