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Inverness Courier petition calling for UK government to end unfair electricity charges in the Highlands and Islands delivered to Downing Street


By Val Sweeney

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Inverness MP Drew Hendry delivers the Courier's petition calling for an end to higher electrity charges to 10 Downing Street.
Inverness MP Drew Hendry delivers the Courier's petition calling for an end to higher electrity charges to 10 Downing Street.

The Inverness Courier petition calling on the UK government to end higher electricity charges in the Highlands has been handed into Downing Street.

It was launched as part of our End The Chill campaign to highlight the deepening crisis of fuel poverty in the Highlands – one of Scotland’s worst-affected regions.

Although the region generates more renewable electricity than it needs, consumers in the north of Scotland are charged the highest unit price in the UK because of outdated calculations.

The petition was handed in by Inverness MP Drew Hendry.

“Why should households across the Highlands pay more than anyone else for their electricity? The answer is simple – they shouldn’t,” he said.

“We are in a preposterous situation where we generate the electricity, pay more to transmit it elsewhere, and then, even more, to get it back into our homes.

“This needs to change, and I was pleased to deliver that message to Downing Street on behalf of Highland News and Media and everyone who backed the petition.

“As your representative at Westminster, I will continue to campaign for these changes with you all until we see action taken.”

Currently, 33 per cent of all Highland households live in fuel poverty but rising energy prices could push this to 47 per cent.

Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford, congratulated the Inverness Courier for its work on the End The Chill campaign.

“Highland and Island energy discrimination has been putting pressure on a vast number of households for far too long,” he said.

“We are unfortunately seeing a squeeze on living standards across the board in the current cost of living crisis and the deepening fuel poverty crisis is making the problem particularly acute in the Highlands.

“We need action from the UK Government and we need it now.

“The truth is though that the significant reform that is required will only come with independence for Scotland.”

Rising energy prices could see 47 per cent of Highland households pushed into fuel poverty


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