Caley Thistle chairman calls for action on energy prices by next First Minister
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Caley Thistle chairman and Scottish property entrepreneur Ross Morrison understands a bit about the unique challenges of life in the more remote corners of Scotland.
With roots in the far north coast of Sutherland, as well as spells living in Wick and Inverness, the successful commercial property owner and developer would like to challenge all three candidates on the price of fuel and energy.
Recent analysis suggests Scottish households will soon have to pay, on average, bills of £1000 a year more than the rest of the UK.
In the Highlands, fuel poverty is often exacerbated by the colder climate, and the fact that the most remote and rural parts of Scotland have more all-electric, oil, liquefied petroleum gas or solid fuel heated homes.
Mr Morrison said: “There are quite a few things I’d like to ask the candidates, but if I had to choose one absolute priority it would be energy costs.
“The price of power for people up here is ridiculous in comparison to the amount of renewable energy.
“Why are we sitting being governed by the price of gas when we have such an abundance of renewables?
“If I was in government, that’s what I would try and sort out. The prices are horrendous. The price of wind hasn’t gone up, has it?
“Battery technology and the hydro-electric storage units being built now can smooth out the curve of drops in wind and renewable power.
“Being governed by the price of gas as the sort of power supply of last resort I think is horrendous.
“There are people making some serious bucks out of that while poor folk are having to pay three or four times what they were even a year ago.
“We pay more standing charge here, for a start, and I just think we’re being absolutely ripped off by the power companies who are just milking the situation something hellish.
“It will come out in the wash, but at the moment we are being absolutely taken advantage of, and I think the government needs to take a heavier hand in this one.
“They really need to get a handle on it.”
