ScottishPower secures approval for $16 B grid plan
Ofgem approves ScottishPower’s $16 B (£12 B) RIIO-T3 investment to upgrade Scotland’s transmission network, expand capacity, and support long-term energy resilience.
Image for illustrative purposes
ScottishPower’s plans to invest up to $16 B (£12 B) in upgrading Central and Southern Scotland’s electricity transmission network have been approved by Ofgem in its RIIO-T3 Final Determination for 2026–2031. This marks the company’s largest-ever investment programme, aimed at unlocking grid capacity, supporting economic growth, and reducing network constraints and long-term electricity costs.
With Britain’s electricity demand expected to double by 2050, the grid requires significant reinforcement to meet future needs and to support a more flexible, low-carbon energy system. Through its SP Energy Networks business, ScottishPower will deliver 12 new major substations, upgrade 450 km of existing circuits, reconductor 87 km of overhead lines and replace 35 km of underground cables over the five-year period.
The programme also includes two major subsea transmission links on Scotland’s east coast. The Eastern Green Link 1 and Eastern Green Link 4 projects will form new high-voltage subsea routes with a combined capacity of 4 GW and a total cable length of 706 km.
This investment will be delivered by a growing workforce. SP Energy Networks plans to double its staffing levels by creating 1,400 direct roles and supporting a further 11,000 jobs across Scotland.
The expected impact on customer bills is around $17 (£12.07) per year, an increase of $8.64 (£6.47). However, the wider UK transmission investment programme is forecast to cut constraint costs by around $6.7 B (£5 B) annually, potentially reducing bills by up to $223 (£167) per year by 2030.
Nicola Connelly, CEO of SP Energy Networks, said the approval reflects the scale of investment required for critical infrastructure, highlighting the long-term benefits for consumers, energy security, and the UK’s clean energy ambitions.
Source: ScottishPower
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