Living next to a pylon isn’t exactly a dream for most people, but it might soon come with a perk. The government is considering a plan that would reduce the electricity bills of households located within 500 metres of new or upgraded power lines.
The offer works out at £125 off every six months, or £250 a year. Over a decade, that adds up to £2,500 (GOV.UK). It’s a small slice of help, but in the middle of a cost-of-living squeeze, plenty of families would take it.
The thinking behind it is straightforward: the UK’s electricity grid has to grow , and quickly. To handle more wind farms, solar energy, and electric vehicle chargers, ministers say the network will need a big expansion, which in turn means more pylons appearing in places that haven’t had them before.
“This discount recognises the role local communities play in helping Britain electrify and decarbonise,” Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho told The Guardian.
As it stands, the plan would only cover homes closest to the new infrastructure, and only for projects starting after the scheme gets approved. The public consultation is open until October 2025, and could shape , or scrap , the final version.
If ministers give the go-ahead, the first discounts could show up in 2026, arriving alongside a wave of planned grid work. For some households, £250 a year might mean a bit of breathing room. For others, it may simply take the sting out of seeing a new pylon outside the window.
Either way, it’s a reminder that the road to net zero won’t just be about technology. It will also hinge on keeping people, quite literally, on board.
