Western Isles

THE WESTERN Isles Poverty Action Group is calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to address an ongoing issue with energy tariffs on the islands.

It has come to the attention of the group that Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has a monopoly on Total Heating Total Control (THTC) tariffs.

Action group chairman Angus McCormack claims this means that those on THTC tariffs can’t switch to cheaper deals, costing them hundreds of pounds each year.

He said: ‘The government, Ofgem, the Competition and Marketing Authority (CMA) and SSE insist the market allows people to obtain lower tariffs by switching, but not if you are on THTC. One hundred and ten thousand SSE customers in the north of Scotland are consequently unable to switch to cheaper tariffs. No wonder the fuel poverty level in the Western Isles stands at 71 per cent.’

He added the CMA is aware of this situation but has no plans to address it, at least before the end of the current year.

Mr McCormack feels something must be done sooner. He said: ‘It means SSE customers on THTC will be obliged to pay hundreds of pounds more than they should. This is profoundly unfair and demonstrates that yet again the people of the Western Isles are penalised by SSE.’