Call for action on energy bill rises
Argyll and Bute Council's leader has called on the UK Government to take urgent action to help hard-pressed families cope following news that households in Argyll and Bute may face some of the highest energy bill rises in the country.
Councillor Robin Currie, of the Kintyre and the Islands ward, joined other local authority leaders from the Highlands and Islands in writing to UK ministers asking the government to change the approach to electricity distribution.
The announcement that energy regulator Ofgem will lift the price cap by more than 50 per cent means that energy bills will rise, on average, by £990 each year.
However, households in the Highlands and Islands region, including Argyll and Bute, could face significantly higher increases, with some bills rising by almost £1,700.
‘I am deeply worried about the impact this will have on people who are already anxious and struggling to cope with daily living costs,' said Councillor Currie.
‘It is completely unacceptable that people should have to worry about making choices between eating or heating. These basic needs cannot become out of reach – urgent action is required.
‘That is why I have joined other council leaders in writing to Kwasi Kwarteng [secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy] and Michael Gove [secretary of state for housing, communities and local government], urging them to look at changing electricity distribution.
‘Action is needed to bring it in line with the likes of gas and telecoms, and share the cost of energy distribution across the UK.
‘The UK Government can show that it is serious about the Levelling Up agenda by doing what it can to right what is yet another very serious inequality between this region and the rest of the country. ‘The Highlands and Islands area is a net exporter of energy to the rest of the UK and, because of its weather and winter daylight hours, has a greater energy need.
‘People should not have to worry about whether their household budget can meet the costs of food, heat and light, nor should they have to make choices at this level.
‘I hope that the UK Government hears our call for action and does what it can now to tackle this very concerning situation.'
Seven Highlands and Islands local authority leaders have signed the letter to Mr Kwarteng which has been copied to Mr Gove.
The impact of the price cap lift means that average energy bills in Argyll and Bute could reach £3,186, which is more than 60 per cent higher than the UK average of £1,971.