High Highland fuel prices are unjustifiable, says Badenoch MSP
A Badenoch MSP is highlighting the unfair practice of consumers paying more for their electricity depending on where they live in the country.
Consumers in the Highlands and Islands are being charged up to 14% more than consumers elsewhere in the UK, purely because of their postcode.
Dave Thompson (SNP) said: “The north of Scotland is consistently one of the most expensive regions; there is a difference of between 1.13p and 1.6p per unit between the unit price charged in the north and the unit price charged in the south of Scotland.
"That is a huge and unfair difference, which I believe is unjustified.
"Consumers in the north of Scotland—such as in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch—also face a double whammy as homes are difficult to insulate, which further increases our costs.
"Whatever review of electricity systems we have, we must bear in mind the need for a level playing field in charges to consumers across the country.”
The Highlands and Islands have some of Europe’s best potential renewable resources, such as the proposed Kylerhea narrows tidal array which has attracted significant European investment or the proposed 600MW pumped storage hydro scheme Coire Glas.
Mr Thompson said: “The high costs in the north come despite the fact that the most remote parts of Scotland have some of the best potential renewable resources in the European Union, as well as existing hydro power.
"Just last week, SSE confirmed that it will proceed with the Glasa development near Ardross—a new £30 million hydro scheme, which is the largest to be built in the UK for five years.
“There are countless other examples along the west coast, in the Moray Firth and around Shetland and Orkney, yet consumers in the Highlands and Islands face amongst the highest bills in the UK.
"As we all know, the cost of fuel has risen substantially for consumers across Scotland in recent years.
"As the cost of heating our homes accounts for a greater part of families’ budgets, the geographic differences seem increasingly unjustifiable. Future policy must ensure a level playing field for all consumers in the UK.”