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Most of us have become so accustomed to seeing overhead electricity wires in and around the AONB's villages, and marching across the landscape, that we hardly notice them. They are installed and maintained by British Telecom and the local electricity supply companies, YEDL and NEDL (now part of CE Electric UK). Once you notice them however, you begin to
realise how much the cables, poles, stays, transformers and other
equipment sometimes disfigure the AONB's landscape.
The electricity supply industry is regulated by a
Government body called OFGEM (Office of Gas and Electricity
Markets). In a recent review of electricity pricing, OFGEM gave its
consent for electricity companies to invest in putting overhead
wires underground in National Parks and AONBs.
CE Electric UK has received £5.5 million
between 2005 and 2010 to spend on the project in all 7 AONBs and
National Parks in its territory. Negotiations are continuing but it
is likely that this sum will be distributed according to the
density of overhead line in each protected area. The funding is
targeted on low voltage (11KV) lines and does not include overhead
wires maintained by British Telecom.
Nidderdale AONB is involved in these negotiations
and will receive a fair share of the investment. Five pilot areas
in villages designated as Conservation Areas have been identified
and Parishes across the AONB are being asked to come up with
additional proposals that will be put to CE Electric UK for
detailed investigation and implementation as appropriate.
Useful background information is available in a
report produced in 2002 by Friends of the Lake District ( http://www.fld.org.uk/pdf/short_report.pdf
) who started a successful undergrounding campaign some years
ago.
CE Electric UK's website is at: http://www.ceelectricuk.com/page/index.cfm
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