Local MSP questions unfair power surcharge
An “unfair” UK electricity surcharge is impacting on the Highlands, says a local MSP.
Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) is to use Portfolio Questions in the Chamber of the Parliament this week to ask the Scottish Government what its position is on people in the Highlands and Islands having to pay the UK electricity 2p-per-unit transmission surcharge.
“The situation whereby people in the energy rich north are forced to pay more to heat their homes as a result of the UK Ofgem energy regulator not charging all people in the UK the same for transporting electricity across the grid, despite so much electricity coming from the north, is an issue I have long campaigned on,” he said on Tuesday (November 4).
“The surcharge is another manifestation of an already unfair situation so I am interested to find out what the Scottish Government’s position is on this and what we can do to pressurise the UK Government to do more”.
He will also follow with a Supplementary Question relating to the perennial problem of fuel poverty and its interconnectedness with energy costs.
Mr Thompson will ask what effect this surcharge will have on the wider goal of eradicating fuel poverty in the Highlands, until such time as the UK Government deign to give Scotland the powers to correct this injustice.
“Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch have some of the worst pockets of fuel poverty in Scotland and the UK and I want to see this alleviated not added to and this is despite the Scottish Government having already asked the UK Government to legislate for equality in energy pricing throughout the UK”.
If allowed the time he intends to follow up with another Question relating to the recent Ofgem report regarding the additional cost in energy prices for local people.
