Applications under the Electricity Act 1989: fees charged

Examples

Example 1. Thermal power station scoped at 160 MW, subsequent application for 160 MW generating station as envisioned at scoping stage.

• A developer is working on a proposal for a gas fired power station with generating capacity of 160 MW
• A scoping request is submitted to Scottish Ministers. The fee tariff table indicates that a fee of £58,500 is required – as the indicative capacity of the proposal is exceeding 100 MW but not exceeding 200 MW.
• The scoping fee is paid, Ministers complete their processes and provide a scoping opinion. Following consideration of this by the developer, an application is submitted for the 160 MW development. The fee tariff table indicates £234,000, however the developer has already paid £58,500 to receive the scoping opinion. Therefore there is a balance of £175,500 which must be paid when the application is submitted.

Example 2. Onshore or offshore wind farm scoped at 175 MW, subsequent application for 95 MW.

• A developer is working on a proposal for wind farm A, and is considering around 50 turbines consistent with the size of models currently on the market with capacity in the region of 3.5 MW – therefore a site with around 175 MW capacity.
• A scoping request is submitted to Scottish Ministers. The fee tariff table indicates that a fee of £58,500 is required – as the indicative capacity of the proposal is exceeding 100 MW but not exceeding 200 MW.
• The scoping fee is paid, Ministers complete their processes and provide a scoping opinion.
• Following consideration by the developer of the scoping opinion, further dialogue with stakeholders takes place. The developer makes subsequent design iterations, then submits an application deleting a number of turbines to leave a smaller 27 turbine development. The reduction in size brings the proposal into a different tariff, for developments exceeding 50 MW but not exceeding 100 MW. The fee tariff table indicates £190,000, however the developer has already paid £58,500 to receive the scoping opinion. A balance of £131,500 must accompany the application.

Example 3. Overhead line, 132 kV on wooden poles, 28 km.

• A developer is working on a proposal for an overhead line, and following public consultation has decided on a preferred route. The developer has elected to ask Scottish Ministers to screen whether EIA is required.
• A screening request is submitted to Scottish Ministers. The fee tariff table indicates that a fee of £1,000 is required.
• Ministers note the potential impacts of the line and sensitivity of receptors and conclude the proposal would constitute an EIA development.
• A scoping request is submitted to Scottish Ministers. The fee tariff table indicates that a fee of £43,750 is required – as the line would be greater than 15 km, but less than 50 km in length.
• The scoping fee is paid, Ministers complete their processes and provide a scoping opinion.
• The developer submits an application for the overhead line. The fee tariff table indicates the total application fee is £175,000, and Ministers accept that the application has been screened with payment of £1,000 and there is a valid scoping opinion for the application for which £43,750 was paid, therefore there is a balance of £130,250 due which must accompany the application.

Example 4. Overhead line, 33 kV on wooden poles, 8 km.

• A developer is working on a proposal for an overhead line, of 8 km length on wood poles with line voltage of 33 kV. The developer has elected to ask Scottish Ministers to screen whether EIA is required.
• A screening request is submitted to Scottish Ministers. The fee tariff table indicates that a fee of £1,000 is required.
• Ministers note the potential impacts of the line and sensitivity of receptors and conclude the proposal would not constitute an EIA development.
• The developer submits an application for the overhead line. The fee tariff table indicates the application fee is £2,100, therefore there is a balance of £1,100 to be paid which must accompany the application.

Example 5. Variation of section 36 consent for an extension to an electricity generating station.

• A developer holds consent for a 100 MW electricity generating station.
• The developer also holds consent for an extension which would add a further 150 MW to the total installed capacity of the site.
• The developer wishes to make minor changes to the design of the extension which require variation of the section 36 consent. There would be no change to the total installed capacity of the site as a result of the variation.
• The fee tariff table indicates the application fee for variation of a consent for an extension exceeding 100 MW but not exceeding 200 MW is £234,000.

These examples illustrate that there is no additional net cost to an application for screening and / or scoping.

Our views

We believe the proposed fee increases are fully justified and recognise the changes to Ministers' administrative functions and working practices, and are a better reflection of the costs of providing and continuing to improve our service.