SSE to meet Comhairle over 15% surcharge 7/11/14
A delegation from energy supplier SSE is to discuss the 15% extra surcharge on electricity bills with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
The two sides will meet in Stornoway on Monday.
Families in the north of Scotland have to pay an additional 2p per unit more than elsewhere as all electricity suppliers face different costs for transporting electricity across the grid in different parts of Great Britain.
It means a Western Isles household pays around 15% more than a family in Oban or Glasgow using the same amount of electricity.
SSE wants these transport costs to be flattened out so that there is one standard charge for every customer across Great Britain.
Reforms require regulatory change and SSE said it is keen that this happens as soon as possible.
The council will pressurise the utility giant to reduce the surcharge as well as launching a joint onslaught on energy regulator, Ofgem to introduce a single nationwide price.
Ceasing the regional price differentials would mean the grid network companies would receive the same income for their necessary maintenance and investment work, but the costs would be spread across all regions.