Households Near New Pylons to Get up to £1,000 Off Bills for 10 Years

Households near new pylons and electricity substations will be offered up to £1,000 off their energy bills over a 10-year period in a bid to reduce local opposition to transmission infrastructure. The plan is expected to be announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday when he delivers his autumn budget statement. The discount will be offered to those living closest to new pylons and electricity substations, but details, including how close the households have to be to qualify for the full amount or who will pay for the discounts, remain unclear. The government is also expected to announce plans aimed at halving the time needed to approve and build transmission infrastructure from 14 years to 7 years, including a new premium planning service across England to guarantee faster pre-application services for major applications in exchange for a fee and refunds where this is not met....