High bills in the Highlands and islands are a major concern according to Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes. She believes that the current situation is the “greatest injustice of our day” and hopes to see reform in the energy sector to bring down bills.
Despite being geographically close to the source of much of the UK’s energy production, the Highlands and islands face some of the highest energy bills in the country. This has led to a disproportionate rate of fuel poverty in the region.
Forbes expressed her shock at the fact that these areas, which generate a significant amount of power for the country, have residents struggling with fuel poverty, including pensioners. She emphasized the need for urgent action to address this issue.
The Deputy First Minister referenced comments from Octopus Energy chief executive Greg Jackson, who suggested that implementing a system of regional pricing could potentially make electricity in Scotland the cheapest in Europe.
She also called for a big vision from the UK Government to tackle the issue head-on and ensure that no one living near energy infrastructure like turbines suffers from fuel poverty. Forbes stressed the importance of complete reform in the energy sector to address this injustice.
In response to these concerns, a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman highlighted the need to focus on protecting consumers from future energy price shocks by transitioning towards homegrown power. The government is reviewing responses to a consultation on reforming electricity markets and considering ways to ensure that communities near clean energy infrastructure benefit from these developments.
It is clear that addressing high energy bills in the Highlands and islands is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention and comprehensive reform to alleviate the burden on residents and combat fuel poverty in the region. The collaboration between the Scottish and UK governments will be crucial in finding sustainable solutions to this ongoing problem.