There was more bad news for hard-pressed consumers this week when we reported that the average household energy bill is set to rise by 9% in October when the latest change to the price cap takes effect.

Read that article here 👈

Today, one of our readers writes about an insult added to that injury: the high standing charges forced upon Scottish customers.

Stewart Lightbody of Troon writes:

"I note that, from October, our energy costs are about to increase by around 9%. I struggle to understand how the costs are spread across the country.

According to National Grid, 'the amount of renewable electricity generated in Scotland in 2022 is equivalent to powering all households in the country for around three and a half years'. So we are a net contributor to the National Grid. Fortunately we are to see the construction of a new underwater pipeline down the east coast to provide our surplus energy to the south.

Why do we pay so much under the heading 'standing charge'? Apparently this is due to the cost of distribution of our energy geographically. Therefore areas that are densely populated share this burden evenly, and at a lower rate, than more sparsely populated areas. Less densely populated areas however, have more remote infrastructure to maintain and thus need more support, allegedly. So, in Scotland we provide a surplus of energy to the UK while being charged more for the privilege. From the last figure that I have the population of the South of Scotland pays more than 150 per cent of the standing charge in London.

In the past few weeks the South of England has experienced significantly higher temperatures than the North of Scotland, and unsurprisingly, this trend continues throughout the year. Of course the new Labour administration sees the opportunity to drop the annual winter fuel allowance across the country without any consideration as to the effect on the population living in the north of the UK compared to the south.

I find that the most disturbing aspect of these recent developments is that the SNP is not up in arms and demanding action on behalf of its population. There is such a logical argument to demand a different apportionment of costs across the country. Why are they failing to exploit such an opportunity?"