By Fatimah Idera
In a bid to reduce opposition to renewable energy projects, households living near electricity pylons will receive up to £250 a year off their electricity bills.
These plans, unveiled by Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner, aim to cut annual energy bills for residents living within half a kilometre of new or upgraded power infrastructure by nearly 40%.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, set to be introduced on Tuesday, will also remove the legal requirement for certain quangos to be consulted on planning decisions.
These proposals are designed to reduce local opposition to renewable energy infrastructure as part of Labour’s broader economic growth strategy.
The bill discount scheme will allow thousands of residents to receive up to £2,500 off their energy costs, in annual payments of £250 over 10 years. The scheme applies to new above-ground transmission cables, major upgrades of existing pylons, and new infrastructure such as substations.
Additionally, residents living near onshore wind farm projects could also become eligible for bill discounts in the future, according to the legislation.
However, community funds worth up to £200,000 per kilometre of overhead electricity cable and £530,000 per substation will be established under the proposals. These funds would be used for projects such as new sports facilities or youth centres.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband emphasized that these measures aim to “bring down bills for good” through renewable power. He stated, “We need to get Britain building right now. As part of that, we are delivering on our landmark commitment to ensure that people living near infrastructure are properly compensated.”
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