SSEN Transmission has asked Ofgem to confirm that three proposed projects are eligible for a regulatory process that can fund development work. The company is seeking support for design, environmental assessment, land work, planning and engagement. Ofgem has not granted construction approval or committed the final build cost.
Which projects are involved?
The proposals cover three places in Perthshire and the Highlands:
- Coupar Angus 2: a proposed 132 kV substation in Perth and Kinross, intended to support 171.6 MW of contracted generation and storage.
- Earba pumped storage hydro connection: the first stage is planned at 600 MW, with a possible second stage taking the project to 1,800 MW. The site is in the Central Highlands, west of Dalwhinnie.
- Coire Mashie: a proposed 400 kV substation between Laggan and Dalwhinnie, intended to connect up to 1,800 MW of pumped storage.
What happens next?
SSEN has submitted the proposals under Ofgem’s T3 Load Re-opener process. If Ofgem agrees that a project is eligible, that would allow defined pre-construction development costs to be considered through the regulatory process. It would not settle the final design, approve construction, or confirm the total amount customers will pay.
Those steps matter because grid projects need detailed engineering, environmental studies, land agreements and planning work before a final investment decision. The announcement says the three projects could support more than 400 jobs across their development and delivery, but that is an estimate rather than a confirmed jobs total.
How does this relate to the wider grid upgrade bill?
These three proposals are a small, identifiable part of a much larger transmission investment programme. Ofgem’s RIIO-3 decision set £10.7 billion of baseline funding for electricity transmission in Great Britain, with further funding available through mechanisms that assess needs as they develop. The much larger headline totals reported for grid upgrades depend on what projects are ultimately approved and delivered.
So today’s announcement does not mean that a specific sum has been added to household bills. It is an early step toward working out whether these projects should advance and what development funding is justified.
What does it mean for Scottish homes?
There is no new household grant or immediate change to an electricity bill in this announcement. Over time, transmission upgrades can help connect generation and storage to the network, but the cost and timing of each project will depend on later regulatory and planning decisions.
For homeowners considering solar, the practical takeaway is that the electricity system is being expanded to handle more generation and storage. This announcement alone does not change the rules for rooftop solar or export payments.
Sources
- SSEN Transmission: seeks Ofgem eligibility approval for three clean power projects, published 13 October 2026; checked 13 October 2026.
- Ofgem: RIIO-3 Final Determinations overview, for the baseline funding context.
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