Energy consents: fees

Introduction

The Electricity Act 1989 specifies that the consent of Scottish Ministers is required for the construction, operation and extension of power stations with an installed capacity in excess of 50 megawatts (MW), or in the case of hydro and marine developments 1 MW (section 36) and for most overhead power lines (section 37). Power station developments that fall below these thresholds are considered under the land use planning system.

Fees

On 5 April 2013 a new fee structure for applications under The Electricity Act will come into force.  Any application received after this date must contain a cheque for the appropriate fee, or the relevant confirmation of bank transfer.

The fees are increasing by 20%, to the following levels:

Subject matter of application for consent	New fee paid to Scottish Government
1. Overhead line with a total distance not exceeding 15km which is not an EIA Development	£180
2. Overhead line with a total distance not exceeding 15km which is an EIA Development	£2,400
3. Overhead line with a total distance:
(a) exceeding 15km but not exceeding 50km	£18,000
(b) exceeding 50km but not exceeding 100km	£30,000
(c) exceeding 100km	£60,000
4. Construction or construction and operation of a generating station of megawatt capacity:
(a) not exceeding 10	£6,000
(b) exceeding 10 but not exceeding 100	£18,000
(c) exceeding 100 but not exceeding 200	£24,000
(d) exceeding 200 but not exceeding 500	£36,000
(e) exceeding 500	£60,000
5. Extension or extension and operation of a generating station resulting in increase in megawatt capacity:
(a) not exceeding 10	£6,000
(b) exceeding 10 but not exceeding 100	£18,000
(c) exceeding 100 but not exceeding 200	£24,000
(d) exceeding 200 but not exceeding 500	£36,000
(e) exceeding 500	£60,000
6. Extension of a nuclear generating station by retrofitting of emission control equipment	£6,000
7. Any other extension of a generating system	£1,200
8. Operation only or change to manner of operation of a generating station	£1,200

All cheques should be payable to the Scottish Government.

Payments to local authorities

On receipt of an application and associated fee from a developer, the Energy Consents Branch will make a payment to the relevant local authority.

What will happen if there is more than one local authority involved?

Where more than one local authority is involved in relation to section 36 projects, payments will be made to each local authority in proportion to the capacity, in megawatts, of the development in each area. In relation to section 37 projects, payment will similarly be proportionate, based on the distance of the overhead line in each area.