LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's energy market regulator Ofgem said on Wednesday it has approved National Grid (LON: NG )'s request to make an early payment of 200 million pounds ($246.9 million) to consumers to help reduce household energy bills. Payments will be carried out over the next two years rather than at the end of the standard five-year review period. Energy prices for millions of Britons have soared as of April after a 54% hike to the regulatory price cap, forcing the government to stump up 9 billion pounds of fresh support for already cash-strapped households. Interconnectors, which are subsea electricity cables connecting the UK and Europe, enable the import of cheaper, cleaner energy from European neighbours, supporting security of supply and reducing carbon emissions.