Undergrounding

Europe

The UK regulator Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) permits transmission companies to recoup the cost of some undergrounding in their prices to consumers. The undergrounding must be in National Parks or designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to qualify. In 2021 work started on a project to bury 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) of 400kV overhead power lines running from near Winterbourne Abbas to Friar Waddon (50°40′08″N2°30′50″W / 50.669°N 2.514°W / 50.669; -2.514, north-west of Weymouth) in Dorset AONB. Similar schemes are planned for Snowdonia, the Peak District and the North Wessex Downs. The most visually intrusive overhead cables of the core transmission network are excluded from the scheme. Some undergrounding projects are funded by the proceeds of national lottery.