Blitz Bureau
THE cost of reducing energy bills for people who live near pylons will be paid for by increasing average annual bills across the country by 80p, UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said, as per a BBC report.
Under the government’s plans, households within 500m of new or upgraded pylons will get discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years, equivalent to £250 a year. Miliband said the costs of the scheme were “more than offset” by the benefits of the new infrastructure. He added that the idea was not about buying people off but “recognising the service” they were doing for the whole country.
However, rural campaign groups said it was “impossible to put a price on the loss of a landscape”. A government-commissioned report found hundreds of miles of new pylons will be needed to meet its clean energy targets.
But new infrastructure proposals have sparked fierce opposition from residents in parts of the country like Norfolk and Suffolk, with campaigners arguing they will destroy the countryside. The bill discounts, which will be funded by electricity suppliers, are expected to be in place from 2026. Suppliers are expected to recoup costs by passing them on to other customers.
Miliband told the BBC, “At the moment, we’re having to switch off offshore wind farms because we haven’t got the transmission infrastructure. “So, everybody benefits from this. Everybody gets lower bills, and those who live near pylons are given a recognition of what they’re doing.” The legislation aims to speed up the building of new homes and infrastructure by cutting red tape and simplifying the planning process.
