Households in Scotland are paying more for their gas and electricity bills compared with England and Wales, according to new figures.
Researchers at comparethemarket.com have compiled data on the average fuel bills across the UK and using ONS household statistics, Scotland has come out with the highest average energy bill.
Despite Scotland having an abundance of resources in oil and gas and renewables, Scots are paying on average £1,651 per year, whilst people in England pay £1,554 per year and Wales £1,525.
The highest bills in the UK were found in Shetland and Orkney, with bills there costing households £2,642 and £2,504 respectively.
Commenting, SNP MSP Graeme Dey said:
“Scotland is paying the price for sky high energy bills, despite Scotland having an abundance of resources in oil and gas and renewables.
“Under Westminster control, the vast revenue from Scotland’s oil and gas industry has been squandered by UK governments for decades and now it is consumers in Scotland who are getting hammered with higher average energy bills than anywhere else in the UK.
“This is also a result of the outrageous and expensive transmission charges that are charged in Scotland for companies to access the national grid here.
“The measures announced by the Chancellor last month – welcome though they were – will barely scratch the surface of the rocketing energy bills crippling households now and in the winter months to come.
“Scotland paying the highest fuel bills in the country lies squarely at the door of the Westminster government and shows why Scotland needs the full range of powers that will come with independence.”
