Thousands of households living close to major electricity grid projects in the North-east could receive £2,500 off their energy bills under a new UK Government scheme.
Homes within 500 metres of eligible new or upgraded transmission infrastructure are expected to receive discounts worth £250 a year for 10 years, with the first payments due to begin next year.
A number of major SSEN Transmission projects across the North-east are included in the first wave of 43 schemes announced by the government.
They include the Beauly-Peterhead and Kintore-Tealing 400kV overhead lines, alongside new substations at Hurlie, Greens near New Deer and Emmock, as well as the Netherton Hub.
Projects will only qualify once they have secured the necessary consents and main construction work has begun, with schemes where construction started on or after March 10, 2025 eligible.
'Vital' intervention
Most qualifying households will receive the discount automatically through their electricity supplier every six months, although some – including those on commercial meters – may have to apply.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: '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.'
Christianna Logan, Director of Customers and Stakeholders at SSEN Transmission, said: 'We strongly support measures that will see communities benefit from hosting the electricity transmission infrastructure that is required to deliver a cleaner, more secure and affordable electricity system for current and future generations.
'SSEN Transmission is committed to leaving a lasting legacy from this vital work, and our planned £29billion investment programme will generate significant economic and social gains for the communities we serve.'
Right that communities benefit
Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: 'This is a welcome and sensible recognition that the communities hosting the infrastructure required to power our energy future should share directly in the benefits.
'If we are serious about delivering a just transition, then we need to dramatically expand and upgrade our electricity grid. Without that investment, we simply cannot unlock the full potential of ScotWind and the billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs that could come with it.
'The North-east will host a significant share of this new infrastructure, so it is right that households living closest to it see a tangible benefit through lower energy bills.
'But community benefit must go hand-in-hand with economic benefit. The prize here is not simply a bigger grid, but an energy system which anchors investment, supply chain activity and high-value jobs in the communities helping to deliver it.'
Households expected to qualify will be contacted by their energy supplier or Ofgem in the first half of next year.
Full list of Scottish projects
- 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
Source: Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
