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UK will offer financial incentives to residents living near new electricity poles

The government announced on Thursday that it could offer households near new electricity poles a discount up to $250 ($334) per year on their bill. This is to encourage the acceptance of the infrastructure required to upgrade the grid. Britain is planning to decarbonise the electricity sector in its country by 2030. This will require new renewable energy projects and infrastructure including pylons that connect these to the grid. In a press release, Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh stated that "as we build infrastructure, we must deliver affordable, homegrown energy. Communities must be given a say." The government has said that by 2030, around twice as much transmission network infrastructure is needed as was built in the past decade. However, in many areas, local communities are opposed to large pylons projects, which critics claim blight landscapes.

The proposed scheme could allow households located near new pylons to save up 2,500 pounds in 10 years. This is done by offering 125 pounds off their bills every six-months.

The UK's energy regulator Ofgem also announced on Thursday that suppliers must install smart meters or repair them if they are broken.

Suppliers will have to compensate customers from 2026 if the customer has to wait longer than six weeks to get an appointment for installation or if there are problems with equipment installed.

(source: Reuters)