Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill has called for an end to the construction of new electricity pylons in Scotland unless energy bills are reduced through the introduction of zonal pricing.
MacAskill has published a new paper arguing that zonal pricing would significantly lower electricity costs for households and businesses, with the greatest benefit felt in Scotland.
Zonal pricing would reflect where electricity is produced, a change that could also benefit the north of England and Wales while addressing what Alba describes as a longstanding imbalance in Scotland.
The policy was previously considered and rejected by the energy regulator Ofgem but has been publicly supported by Greg Jackson, chief executive of Octopus Energy, who has said Scotland could have the cheapest electricity in Europe.
Speaking in Dundee, MacAskill said:
“The case for Zonal Pricing is cast iron with clear benefits for Scottish customers and businesses.
“Scotland’s energy must not be a resource for Westminster to exploit while Scots are condemned to pay the highest energy prices in the UK.
“But we should be clear, that without action such as Zonal Pricing, to significantly lower electricity bills for Scots households and cut energy costs for business, there must be no more pylons on our land to take our energy south.
“The visual and environmental damage of pylons will be both severe and long term.
“Without cheaper electricity Scotland must say no to pylons on our land.”
Alba depute leader Neale Hanvey said Scotland’s current position was untenable given its role as a major energy producer.
“Scotland has a massive energy bounty with the Berwick Bank offshore wind farm alone set to provide electricity for more households than exist in Scotland.
“Scotland has the highest energy prices in the UK, if not Europe, despite Scotland being the major energy producing part of the UK.
“That unfairness must end.
“The costs of production and transmission are lower and therefore should lead to greatly reduced costs.
“Without the need for significant cables whether on land or subsea or the construction of pylons the costs of supply are significantly lower, but this is not reflected in transmission costs and energy prices.”
MacAskill said zonal pricing could transform Scotland’s economic prospects.
“With zonal pricing and lower energy costs, we have the opportunity to re-industrialise Scotland.
“Energy intensive industries would be incentivised to locate in Scotland with both manufacturing and supply chain work for the renewable energy sector being located near to where it is required.
“The expansion of an industrial base with new green technologies should be a given with Scotland’s location and natural energy bounty.
“Cheap energy which should be available at the site of its production allows for that.
“Scotland is an energy powerhouse but our wealth is being taken south without the benefits of our massive energy resources being passed on to Scottish households and businesses.
“We need Zonal Pricing and cheaper electricity. Without that there must be no pylons disfiguring our land.”
