With National Grid recently announcing the latest stage of consultation on their Norwich to Tilbury pylon proposals, it has been revealed the cost to billpayers of massive offshore transmission in the north of England – an option that has been ruled out for our area, but which we will have to fund through our energy bills.
In a series of written answers from the Government to South Suffolk MP, James Cartlidge, between September and January of this year, we have discovered the following facts about the cost of the Eastern and Western links, carrying electricity OFFSHORE from Scotland to the north of England down either side of the UK:
- Building this non-pylon infrastructure will add £6.50 per year to household bills
- When National Grid planned the most expensive part of this northern grid, the Eastern Link, they never even considered pylons in detail
Alex Burghart MP said:
“We are being made to pay for offshore infrastructure elsewhere in the country whilst being denied it here - this is completely unacceptable. We have to keep the pressure on the Government to think again and avoid the awful disruption that these unnecessary pylons will bring.”
Extracts from written answers:
From a written answer in January 2025, Energy Minister Michael Shanks confirmed: ‘At the time of Ofgem’s decision for Eastern Green Link (EGL) 1&2 Final Need Case, an onshore option was expected to be delivered by 2036, based on information provided by the Transmission Owner, National Grid Electricity Transmission. It was not included as part of the Final Need Case,[1] as analysis conducted by the Electricity System Operator found that the reinforcement was needed earlier than the onshore option could be delivered.’
From a written answer in October 2024, Energy Minister Michael Shanks confirmed: ‘Ofgem estimates that the Western Link and Eastern Green Link will increase consumer bills by an average of £6.50 per annum over a 60-year period, taking inflation into account.’ This was in response to James Cartlidge MP asking the Energy Secretary ‘if he will make an estimate of the potential impact on consumer energy bills of the total lifetime cost of delivering (a) the Western Link and (b) all current and future stages of the Eastern Green Link offshore cabling.’
Notes:
Written question on £6.50: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-09-10/5072
Written question on timing of pylon alternative to Eastern Link: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-13/23388
Written question on onshore Eastern Link alternative not progressing to cost benefit analysis stage https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-02/17189
