£10 million off electricity bills for communities near wind and solar farms

Thousands of households, businesses and community buildings across the UK are benefitting from direct electricity bill support through RES’ pioneering Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS), which has now delivered more than £10 million in payments since launching 13 years ago.

The scheme gives eligible properties close to participating wind and solar farms a discount on their electricity bill every year. Payments are credited directly with the account holder’s electricity supplier, and vouchers are sent to properties on pre-payment meters.

Since the scheme was launched in 2013, LEDS has provided £10,398,756 in electricity bill discounts through 50,664 individual payments. There are now 37 operational renewable energy projects within Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently offering LEDS, with more than 7,000 properties receiving almost £1.9 million in support during 2025 alone.

The scheme was designed by RES following consultation with communities around its wind farm projects, where electricity bill discounts were identified as a top priority. More than a decade later, LEDS has become a proven example of how locally focused benefit schemes can help ensure communities see a direct, tangible and long-term benefit from renewable energy development.

Lucy Whitford, UK & Ireland Managing Director at RES, said: “Surpassing this £10 million milestone in LEDS payments is a clear demonstration of how renewable energy projects can efficiently deliver practical, lasting benefits for nearby communities.

“LEDS was created by listening to what communities told us they wanted: which put simply, was, and continues to be, cheaper electricity. With energy costs remaining a concern for many, the scheme has grown significantly as it continues to provide a meaningful benefit to thousands of properties every year, while also supporting home-grown, zero carbon electricity generation.”

“As RES’ recently published Power for Good Sustainability Report highlights, creating a future where everyone has access to affordable, zero carbon energy is not only about delivering renewable energy projects; it is also about working responsibly with the people and places connected to them.”

Unlike traditional community benefit funds, which typically support shared local projects, LEDS provides those living and working within a defined eligible area the opportunity to apply and receive electricity discounts directly. The scheme can complement wider community benefit packages, helping communities benefit both collectively and individually from nearby renewable energy projects.

RES provides end-to-end administration of LEDS, managing everything from eligible property participation and annual payments to coordination with energy suppliers, supported by robust governance and data protection processes. In addition to offering LEDS as a form of community benefit on its own projects in development, RES also administers the scheme as a service on behalf of third-party project owners, enabling more people to access this unique benefit.

One example of this approach can be seen in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, where RES has been appointed to deliver LEDS using community benefit funding from an existing renewable energy project operating in the area. While LEDS is currently delivered in the UK, the principle behind the scheme reflects a wider global priority for RES: working collaboratively with communities to create practical, locally relevant benefits alongside the clean energy transition.

Ronnie Johnstone, Sanquhar Community Council, said: “The Local Electricity Discount Scheme is in its third year in The Royal Burgh of Sanquhar and District Community Council area, for all where an electricity meter is installed. It has been very well received and has been the most talked about and appreciated project in our area.

“As a community councillor it was a pleasure to be able to give monies off electricity bills to all properties in the Community Council area, especially the older generation, the unemployed, some local businesses and churches who have been struggling financially for some time.”

This experience illustrates the broad impact LEDS has made through the delivery of a simple, meaningful and practical benefit which recognises the role local communities play in hosting renewable energy infrastructure.

With more than £10 million worth of payments already issued, RES will continue to offer and administer LEDS as part of its wider commitment to creating long-term value for the people and places connected to renewable energy projects around the world.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

About RES’ Power for Good Sustainability Report

Click here to read the latest report which highlights the positive impact RES is making across the environment and society. The report also showcases how RES works with customers, partners, communities and colleagues around the world to support a future where everyone has access to affordable, zero carbon energy.

​​About RES

​RES is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, working across 24 countries and active in wind, solar, energy storage, green hydrogen, transmission, and distribution. An industry innovator for over 40 years, RES has delivered more than 29GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and plans to bring more than 26GW of new capacity online in the next five years.

​As a service provider, RES has the skills and experience in asset management, operations and maintenance (O&M), and spare parts – supporting 45GW of renewable assets. RES brings to the market a range of purposeful, practical technology-based products and digital solutions designed to maximise investment and deployment of renewable energy.

​RES is the power behind a clean energy future where everyone has access to affordable zero carbon energy bringing together global experience, passion, and the innovation of its 4,500 people to transform the way energy is generated, stored and supplied. Visit: www.res-group.com​

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Marcus Dunér

RES Press Office

+46 723 762829

[email protected]