Through our transmission business, we are responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity in central and southern Scotland. We have an obligation to maintain, operate and invest in our network to secure a safe, reliable, and economic service for current and future customers.
On 12 May 2026, Ofgem announced that it has confirmed ‘Early Construction Funding’ (ECF) of around £150 million* for two of our strategic transmission projects. Both of these projects and the ECF funding are part of our RIIO-T3 Business Plan which commenced delivery on 1 April 2026 and will run over a 5-year period until 31 March 2031.
The ECF funding is broken down across two of our strategic projects:
- £99 million* – Tealing to Kincardine Upgrade Project (TKUP)
- £53.1 million* – Denny to Wishaw Network Upgrade (DWNO)
*2018/19 prices – see footnote for 2026/27 prices.
The TKUP and DWNO projects are both part of the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework, an Ofgem-regulated initiative designed to fast-track 26 critical electricity network projects across Great Britain (GB). This follows on from ECF being secured for EGL4 in November, and full funding approval for EGL1, ensuring our complete ASTI portfolio is being developed and delivered at pace.
The ECF funding allows us to progress these significant projects to transform our transmission network in central and southern Scotland.
Quoted in Ofgem's media release, Beatrice Filkin, Ofgem’s Director of Major Projects said:
“The last few years have shown how quickly global events can result in energy price shocks which push up bills for British consumers.
“By unlocking early funding for these projects, we aim to accelerate their delivery. This is crucial for strengthening Britain’s energy security and cutting constraint costs and exposure to volatile international gas prices by providing more grid capacity.
“Early funding helps transmission operators secure scarce components, avoid supply-chain delays, and deliver the grid upgrades needed to power homes and businesses with more clean, homegrown energy.”
She added: “However this isn’t planning consent for the schemes which will be considered by the relevant planning authorities.
“As financial regulator of these projects, we’ll protect consumers by ensuring any early spend is targeted, any unused funding is returned, and costs can only be recovered where there’s a clear benefit for billpayers.”
Strategic projects such as TKUP and DWNO are key to achieving a clean energy system and decarbonised grid, aiming to reduce constraint costs to consumers and have 95% of clean power across GB from clean sources by 2030. This target is known as the UK Government’s ‘Clean Power 2030 Action Plan’.
Our RIIO-T3 Business Plan aims to reduce consumer bills by £167 per year by 2030 and adds £2bn GDP growth per year alongside creating 1,400 direct jobs and 11,000 across the GB supply chain.
Tealing to Kincardine Upgrade Project (TKUP)
To strengthen the electricity transmission network and guarantee secure energy supplies for the future we need to increase the operating voltage of existing overhead lines in Fife from 275,000 volts (275kV) to 400,000 volts (400kV). We also need to extend Westfield substation, near Ballingry, and Mossmorran substation, near Cowdenbeath, and build a new substation at Conland near Glenrothes. Watch this video below to find out more about TKUP. Visit the TKUP web page.
[+ video_id=407 +]
*£400m = 2018/19 prices
Denny to Wishaw Network Upgrade (DWNO)
Today, the existing electricity network in Falkirk and Lanarkshire includes overhead lines operating at 275kV (275,000 volts) and 132kV (132,000 volts), transporting energy through the region and serving local communities through Grid Supply Points (GSPs) at Bonnybridge, Cumbernauld, Easterhouse, Newarthill, Denny North and Wishaw.
Our planning work with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has identified that, for the UK to meet its Net Zero carbon emissions targets, we need to reinforce the network between Denny and Wishaw to add capacity to transmit the additional green energy.
This reinforcement includes uprating some existing overhead lines from 275kV to 400kV and building the proposed new overhead transmission line between Bonnybridge and a point near Glenmavis, allowing the additional clean electricity to flow into the wider transmission network.
Watch this video below to find out more about DWNO. Visit the DWNO web page.
[+ video_id=420 +]
*£250m = 2018/19 prices
Receiving ECF funding from Ofgem for TKUP and DWNO is a positive milestone as we move the grid forward and secure a more sustainable future for us all.
To stay up to date with our transmission project updates, register as a stakeholder and select ‘SP Transmission’ as one of your interests.
Footnote
£53.1 (2018/19) = £70.2m (2026/27)
£99m (2018/19) = £131m (2026/27)