Brits open to paying extra for T-pylons

The majority of Brits would be willing to pay extra to cover the costs of alternative transmission infrastructure such as T-pylons and underground cabling.

Some 58% of the public would be happy to add an additional pound to their monthly energy bills to contribute to the additional cost, with a third (33%) willing to stump up an extra fiver a month.

That would be on top of the £4 that is already added to energy bills to contribute towards the costs of transmission infrastructure.

The support for T-pylons is revealed within the government’s research into Community Benefits for Electricity Transmission Network Infrastructure.

It concludes that 51% of respondents reported they would find T-pylons more acceptable than lattice pylons, while just 5% showed a preference for lattice pylons over T-pylons. Some 37% reported no preference.

The survey also reports that “most participants” would prefer to see T-pylons installed over underground cabling “once they were made aware of the environmental impacts of undergrounding and offshore infrastructure”.

It adds: “The survey showed an initial preference for moving overhead powerlines underground or offshore, however this diminished significantly after respondents were informed of the potential environmental impacts.

“While three-quarters (74%) found plans to move overhead powerlines underground more acceptable initially, only one third (33%) still did when informed about the potential environmental impacts of this infrastructure.”

The T-pylon design is the first major UK pylon redesign in almost a century and consists of a single pole and cross shaped arms. It is around a third shorter than the traditional high-voltage pylon design with a smaller ground footprint.

Traditional lattice pylons also require around 1.5 times the amount of concrete required for T-pylons, and three times as much land.

National Grid energised the first of its new T-pylons last year as part of a £900 million project in South West England.

The research report adds: “Generally, T-pylons were felt to be more visually attractive than lattice pylons, with a less intrusive shape compared to lattice pylons. However, lattice pylons were generally seen to be commonplace and therefore accepted.

“T-pylons were perceived to be more environmentally responsible than lattice pylons due to being shorter and having a smaller footprint on land. The potential for T-pylons to require less concrete when being installed was also viewed positively.”

The research also concludes that electricity bill discounts and direct payments increased acceptability for respondents who were unaccepting of infrastructure projects.

Of those who initially found projects in their local areas unacceptable, 69% were willing to change their mind in exchange for discounts on their energy bills compared to 56% who said they would be more accepting in return for direct payments.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an initiative in November’s autumn statement, which would offer households living within 200 metres of new transmission infrastructure discounts of up to £10,000 on their electricity bills over 10 years.

The government opted for bill discounts despite electricity networks commissioner Nick Winser recommending lump sum payments in his wide-reaching review published last year.