Electricity bills could rise by 1pc to accommodate an upgrade to Britain's aging electricity transmission grid. Investment of up to £4.7bn is needed to ensure the electricity network is prepared for new renewable and nuclear infrastructure that will be built by built by 2020, according to a new industry report.
In what will be the largest investment in the national grid since the 1960s, up to 1,000km (620 miles) of new cabling will be required to connect remote windfarms and the new generation of nuclear power stations to major cities, the report concludes.
Under the guidance of industry regulator Ofgem, the investment will be made by the three British transmission licensees – National Grid, Scottish & Southern and Scottish Power. National Grid said: "We estimate that the new infrastructure will add an additional 1pc to electricity bills – an average household cost of £6 per annum."
The changes are needed as part of the UK's commitment to generate around 30pc of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, as well as encouraging the development of new nuclear plants.
The report was produced by the electricity industry under the authority of the Electricity Networks Strategy Group (ENSG), a forum which brings together key stakeholders in the electricity supply industry to support the government. It is chaired jointly by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and industry regulator Ofgem.
The report concluded that work needs to start now to upgrade the existing grid and included proposals for high-voltage sub-sea cable links between Scotland and England.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
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