Scottish households and businesses are facing soaring grid constraint costs, with new analysis from the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) revealing that Scotland has paid £1.09 billion so far this year.
NESO data shows £147 million was spent in November alone, making 2025 on course to be the most expensive year on record.
Constraint payments occur when generators are paid to reduce output because the grid cannot transport the electricity to where it is needed.
Scotland’s rising dependence on intermittent renewables, combined with declining firm power capacity since Hunterston B closed in 2022, is intensifying pressure on the system.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the NIA, said: “Scottish consumers are paying billions of pounds for system costs that create no jobs, generate no power and deliver no long-term benefit – while proven nuclear technology that could do all three is left off the table.”
He added that new nuclear projects could strengthen energy security and stabilise bills while supporting Scotland’s industrial heartlands.
With Torness scheduled to close in 2030, concerns are growing that Scotland’s lack of clean baseload power will continue to push up system costs and emissions.
The NIA argues that nuclear must sit alongside renewables to deliver a reliable, low-carbon energy mix.
Scotland faces £1 Billion grid bottleneck bill appeared first on Energy Live News.