Scots are facing a long and punishing winter as energy bills rise once more despite Labour’s pledge to cut costs for households.
Temperatures have dropped below freezing across the country this week and the first cold snap has brought a stark reminder of what lies ahead for families who are already stretched.
Labour came to power promising to lower energy bills by three hundred pounds, yet costs have instead risen by almost two hundred, leaving households around five hundred pounds worse off than they expected.
Fresh analysis from Cornwall Insight shows a slight fall of twenty two pounds expected in January before bills climb again in April, pushed higher by an extra seventy five pounds in standing charges.
The forecast also factors in the cost of Labour’s new levy, which will see Scots subsidising new nuclear power stations in other parts of the UK.
The SNP has renewed its call for a Social Tariff to protect the most vulnerable and last week published modelling showing that such a policy could save six hundred and sixty thousand Scottish households an average of seven hundred pounds a year.
The party argues that this would pull thousands out of fuel poverty, but the UK Government would need to act in next week’s Budget for any change to take effect.
Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick said Scotland’s situation is all the more shocking because of the nation’s energy wealth.
She said Scotland produces more renewable energy than it needs, yet people are still paying some of the highest bills in Europe.
“Scotland is an energy rich nation and yet we face the scandalous situation where people face paying some of the highest energy bills which are even higher than they were last winter,” she said.
“With temperatures already well below freezing in November, Scots households face a long, hard winter ahead.”
She said the strain is even more severe in the Highlands and Islands.
“The situation in the communities I represent is even more acute,” she said.
“With colder and longer winters, people need to pay even more to heat their homes, and the situation is worse for households off the main grid who face even higher costs.”
She said the introduction of Social Tariffs would offer real relief.
“Social Tariffs on energy bills would save households hundreds each year and lift thousands out of fuel poverty,” she said.
“But with Westminster still holding control over energy markets this would require Keir Starmer’s Government to take urgent action rather than sit on its hands as energy bills have spiralled further out of control under their watch.”
She said independence remains the only route to long term fairness.
“It becomes clearer each day that it is only with the fresh start of independence that Scotland can use our vast clean natural energy resources to lower bills for everyone,” she said.
Across Scotland this week, families are watching the frost settle and the bills rise and wondering how many more winters will feel this hard.
For many the hardship is already real, and relief cannot come soon enough.
