YOU have given coverage to the dramatic increases in rateable values for small-scale hydro schemes - of more than 500 per cent in some cases (“Green energy firms to lobby for rate relief”, The Herald, February 9). To add insult to injury, this has the effect of taking those schemes of 500kW capacity or more, into the “large business” category – meaning they have to pay an extra 2.6p in the pound.
By no stretch of the imagination can a small run of river hydro scheme in a rural glen be regarded as a large business.
So while the Scottish Government states in its recent Draft Energy Strategy that it is reducing the rate poundage for 2017/18, for the vast majority of small-scale scheme owners, the poundage will in fact be increasing.
Your front-page article (£12m rates raid”, The Herald, February 15) refers to utilities and energy companies paying £12.6m more than their English counterparts. It is important to understand that this grouping includes farmers and landowners who have developed small hydro schemes on their land. Not exactly the “Big Six”.
Kenny Hunter.
MEG Hydro Services,
Caledonia House, Inchinnan Business Park, Renfrew.
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