Residents in parts of Lanarkshire could be eligible for reduced electricity bills under a new government discount scheme for those living close to new and upgraded pylons.
The planned new Coalburn substation in South Lanarkshire and both the Denny-to-Wishaw and Kincardine North-to-Wishaw overhead line projects are among 43 locations across Britain included in the first wave of homes set to receive the discount.
Who qualifies for the discount
Eligible householders will be contacted directly by their energy supplier or Ofgem in the first half of 2027 if they qualify for the scheme, which offers automatic bill reductions totalling £250 per year for those living within 500 metres of upgraded infrastructure.
Coalburn’s new substation, south of Lesmahagow, is described by operators Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) as “designed to help move more clean electricity across Scotland”.
The company say: “This major upgrade to the region’s energy transmission infrastructure will deliver extra capacity to connect cleaner, greener energy”, adding that it will help “wind farms connect to the grid and carry their electricity where it’s needed”.
Projects in the area
SPEN’s Denny to Wishaw network upgrade includes constructing new overhead lines running from Bonnybridge to Glenmavis near Airdrie, then connecting to an upgraded version of the existing 16km Newarthill to Wishaw pylon route which includes extending existing substations at Cumbernauld and Wishaw.
The application is currently at the planning application stage, with the latest round of public consultation having been carried out earlier this year; while the Kincardine North to Wishaw project will reinforce the lines between Fife and Lanarkshire.
Announcing the qualifying discount scheme projects, energy minister Michael Shanks, the Rutherglen MP, said: “Upgrading Britain’s electricity grid is a vital part of how we deliver secure, homegrown energy and unlock economic growth across the country.
“It is a moment of national renewal, upgrading what was built largely in the 1960s for the modern age to bring down electricity bills for households across the country. 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.”
Impact and next steps
The government announcement notes: “People will only be in scope for the discounts once projects have secured all necessary consents and the main construction works have started.”
SPEN chief executive Nicola Connelly said: “Communities are playing a role in enabling and supporting the greatest rewiring of the UK energy system in decades and it is good to see them directly benefiting, through bills and our community benefit funds.”
More than 120,000 households are expected to be eligible for energy bill discounts in the next two decades; while community benefit funds will be established by network operators across the country to support nearby areas.
Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander said: “Scotland is playing a central role in the UK’s energy transition, and as we build the modern grid needed to harness that power, it is only right that local families living alongside new pylons see real, direct savings on their electricity bills.
“These projects are essential for energy security and lower bills, and the communities hosting key infrastructure for this long-awaited grid upgrade deserve cheaper energy in return. I encourage households across Scotland living near these new or upgraded sites to check if they qualify for a discount.”
