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►  Call for cheaper Western Isles electricity prices       

►  Petition against 15% energy bill surcharge   

 

The Western Isles Poverty Action Group has called on electricity giant Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to speedily cut its 15% surcharge against island households.

 

The surcharge price is part of the infrastructure costs all power companies are obliged to pass on to customers.

 

But people in the Western Isles and the Highlands have to pay an additional 2p for every unit of electricity compared to central belt residents.

 

SSE says it is because of the extra costs for transporting electricity across the grid to remote communities and over rough terrain in the north.

 

The grid operator has agreed to look at introducing a social tariff in the Western Isles - thus offering a cheaper price plan which could compensate for the higher surcharge.  However, it is up to SSE regulator to pitch such a scheme to Ofgem for approval.

 

 

Call for cheaper islands’ electricity price                 

18 November 2014

 

A Western Isles Poverty Action Group spokesman said it recognises SSE’s commitment to an UK universal and lower tariff in the future.

 

He highlighted: “However the achieving of such a tariff may take years and is of no immediate benefit to the 71% of households in the Outer Hebrides who are in fuel poverty.”

 

The group called for SSE to immediately introduce a social tariff for the Outer Hebrides, saying the case is “irrefutable with evidence of the highest quality” from energy effeciciency agencies.

 

The spokesman said: “It is incumbent upon SSE to do all it can to ensure that almost three quarters of households in the Outer Hebrides do not spend another winter in fuel poverty.

 

A special price plan for the Western Isles would combat fuel poverty and demonstrate SSE’s claim to have a social conscience, he added.

 

Western Isles Poverty Action Group also wants SSE to introduce smart meter technology as a pilot in the Outer Hebrides which would giving householders better control over home energy consumption.

 

►  Call for cheaper Western Isles electricity prices       

►  Petition against 15% energy bill surcharge