Overview

• Households within 500 metres of new or upgraded transmission lines would receive up to £250 per year for ten years in £125 biannual instalments assigned to each property.
• The scheme is intended to mitigate planning delays by giving communities a stake in projects needed to double new transmission infrastructure by 2030.
• A simultaneous consultation on Ofgem’s smart meter proposals would cut wait times for installations, require fixes within 90 days or trigger automatic compensation to consumers.
• Energy department officials say the discount could reach 400,000 households, with rural areas in eastern England and Scotland most likely to host new pylons.
• Property consultants and campaigners warn that pylons can reduce home values by around £8,000, prompting objections that the rebate fails to offset visual disruption and potential losses.