Residents in the Highlands where fuel poverty rates are among the worst in Scotland facing 'catastrophic' damage to lives and wellbeing as UK energy regulator, Ofgem, announces 54 per cent rise in energy price cap
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Record rises in energy costs will be an "absolute horror story" for many residents in the Highlands where fuel poverty rates are among the worst in Scotland.
That was the verdict of one charitable organisation following announcement by the UK energy regulator, Ofgem, that the energy price cap will rise by 54 per cent to £693.
Average energy bills are set rise to about £2000 when the new cap comes into effect in April but the impact is set to be harder in the Highlands where bills are disproportionately higher.
Although the UK government has announced measures to help soften the blow, politicians and organisations predict more people in the region will face a bleak choice between eating and heating – already 33 per cent of all households in the Highlands already live in fuel poverty.
Damage on people's lives is 'catastrophic'
Councillor Alasdair Christie, the general manager of Inverness Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and depute leader of Highland Council, said the damage on people's lives, health and wellbeing was catastrophic.
"This is an absolute horror story for many Highland residents who are seeing their bills and costs soaring, leaving them to make impossibly difficult decisions between food, energy, going out and basic day-to-day living," he said.
Although the government has announced a package of measures to soften the immediate impact on households, Mr Christie said this was about the here and now.
"An injection of pace and urgency is required by the government to stop the misery caused by the prospect of increasing prices," he said.
Mr Christie urged people in difficulty to contact the CAB urgently to see what options and help were available to them.
He acknowledged the CAB itself was under pressure partly because of rises in inflation, people coming out of furlough and increases in energy prices.
He said the organisation was always on the lookout for volunteers to be trained.
"If people want to help their community and vulnerable people, they can get in touch with us," he said.
People urged to support Inverness Courier campaign to end unfair energy charges
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry said Ofgem's announcement would be a blow to many households in his constituency.
"At a time when many hard-working families and individuals are already strapped for cash due to Tory policies such as the cut to Universal Credit and the National Insurance, an annual increase of around £700 on bills is the last thing they need," he said.
"While any UK Government intervention is, of course, welcome, the loan proposals announced today do nothing but kick the can further down the road."
He said customers would still ultimately face bearing the full brunt of the out-of-control wholesale price on gas.
"It seems the Chancellor can find money to write off billions in fraudulent Covid cheques, and look after his pals at the banks, but not for households across this constituency and across the country," Mr Hendry said.
Mr Hendry also urged people to support the Inverness Courier's petition, launched as part of our End The Chill campaign, calling on the government to End Unfair Electricity Charges in the Highlands and Islands.
"Here in the Highlands, we already pay more per unit than other parts of the UK due to unfair transmission charges despite the area producing much of the UK’s onshore renewable energy," he said.
"The system is clearly broken, and I would encourage readers to get behind the Courier’s unfair electricity charges campaign."
Difficult choice between heating or eating
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant also voiced her worries
"We’re in the middle of a cost of living crisis and this is announcement from Ofgem is only going to make that worse," she said.
"The announcement from Rishi Sunak is welcome but sadly, the support as it stands doesn’t go far enough to help vulnerable families and pensioners.
"This is especially the case in the Highlands and Islands where energy bills are disproportionally higher.
"The simple fact is that low-income families cannot squeeze and pinch any more out of their income and some will have no choice but to choose between heating or eating."
Mrs Grant continued: "We’re seeing individuals and families struggle to pay their debts and turn to food banks. Its also impossible for families to get on the property ladder. I hope both of our Governments will act now to help these people during this difficult time."
Many households in Highlands and Islands cannot access mains gas
Di Alexander, chairman of the Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey CAB and the Highlands and Islands Housing Association's Affordable Warmth group, said households in the region would be particularly hard hit as many could not access mains gas and relied on electricity which was more expensive.
While the rise in the energy cap is set to push average bills in the UK to £2000, Mr Alexander said many in the Highlands and Islands were already paying this and could now face paying up to another £1000.
"This is going to put a whole new section of people into fuel poverty," he said.
"A lot of people will be turning off their heating to keep bills down.
"This is very bad news for the Highlands and Islands."
Inverness Courier launches petition demanding end to unfair charges
