ADE: Demand has welcomed government plans for electricity bill cuts to thousands living near new pylons – but stresses that flexibility must be treated as an equal priority alongside physical build-out if we are to deliver a fair, efficient and future-proof energy system.
Also announced are reforms, set to be introduced next year, which will see obligations for energy suppliers to improve the smart meter rollout, including stronger compensation rules for delays in installation or repairs – an essential step to enabling flexibility in homes and businesses.
Along with these plans, the Government has launched a consultation on the scheme design for bill discounts for new transmission network infrastructure, as part of its Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
We should avoid overreliance on building new pylons and instead prioritise unlocking the full potential of flexibility. By using the grid more intelligently and efficiently – for the benefit of everyone, not just gas giants – households could save £115 a year by 2030 and £375 by 2040. It would also support rural communities, who are too often left behind in the energy transition.
Sarah Honan, Head of Policy at ADE: Demand, said, “Communities hosting infrastructure should be recognised but just as important are the tangible savings: real money saved by avoiding unnecessary pylons, cables and excess generation capacity. Flexibility shouldn’t be seen as secondary to physical infrastructure – it’s just as vital.
“Consumers are ready to take control of their energy bills. Now is the time to put them at the heart of the system – paying them to flex, rather than relying on gas plants to step in when the grid is under pressure.”
