Scotland's renewables are amongst the cheapest electricity sources. The decision to peg their price to gas (which Scotland hardly uses) is entirely down to the preferences of the British government and it's energy regulator. They choose to set prices at the level of the most expensive generator as a matter of principle. This suits the generators, clearly, who make vast profits from our renewables. Given Scotland has no say in British governments, the only solutiobs are to reform Westminster and the UK into a federal state (never going to happen) or Scotland gaining all the powers by regaining independence (which seems pretty inevitable).
Good article, once again illustrating how much Westminster treats Scotland as merely a "remote" region, to be ignored in its priorities.
Yes the energy price has been manipulated by energy traders with the connivance of the ‘regulator’. The Balgy Gap is a visible reminder of Ofgem - and actually the whole system - failure to deliver for Scotland
The present system sees Scotland sending electricity south at renewable costs only for it to be sent back at gas prices. Time for the big reset. No more asking. 🏴😎
Surely something could be done. Kate Forbes? And on the side, why wd Grouse Beater block me? Is he sensitive in general or is it something I said, d'you think?
So why didn't the area get connected in the 1950/60 build out of rural areas that was funded by the government?
Plenty of consumers should be receiving the warm home discount scheme if they are at that level of fuel poverty.
Anyhow there is something well awry with distribution charges in N.Scotland which were set when it was remote from generation and this pre Peterhead. Now of course there is wind generation but you have to balance that off against the times when its not windy but charges should be lowered for sure and im afraid the rest of us will have to pay a little more but that thats the fair way this country is supposed to work on.
Thanks for your comment, That section of highway was built in the 1970s. The real issue is that under privatisation there seems no way to force infrastructure investment over shareholder dividends - same goes for English water
Unfortunately all new connections for over 50yrs have needed to be funded by the customers. What did change 15 or so years back is you don't have to use the local distribution company to do all the works. So in this case the customers could engage an approved contractor to install an 11kV pole route back to Shieldaig as well as installing the transformers and LV cables to connect to individual premises. The final connection would then be done by SSE who are the distribution operator in this area. Not sure how many premises there are down here but an 11kV pole routes is c30k/km plus another 10-20K/pole transformer depending on rating. So on the face of it £1m seems a lot but the other wrinkle is getting wayleaves for the pole route could cost a fortune in legal fees and annual charges.
Perhaps the fish farm could tap into some subsidy scheme that might get a contribution but looks like its going to expensive as so few customers to share the burden with.
Everything could be SO different. 😒
Utilities should never have been privatised who turned them into their very own cash cows.
Scotland's renewables are amongst the cheapest electricity sources. The decision to peg their price to gas (which Scotland hardly uses) is entirely down to the preferences of the British government and it's energy regulator. They choose to set prices at the level of the most expensive generator as a matter of principle. This suits the generators, clearly, who make vast profits from our renewables. Given Scotland has no say in British governments, the only solutiobs are to reform Westminster and the UK into a federal state (never going to happen) or Scotland gaining all the powers by regaining independence (which seems pretty inevitable).
Good article, once again illustrating how much Westminster treats Scotland as merely a "remote" region, to be ignored in its priorities.
Yes the energy price has been manipulated by energy traders with the connivance of the ‘regulator’. The Balgy Gap is a visible reminder of Ofgem - and actually the whole system - failure to deliver for Scotland
Brilliant Jackie.
Thank you
The present system sees Scotland sending electricity south at renewable costs only for it to be sent back at gas prices. Time for the big reset. No more asking. 🏴😎
Surely something could be done. Kate Forbes? And on the side, why wd Grouse Beater block me? Is he sensitive in general or is it something I said, d'you think?
So why didn't the area get connected in the 1950/60 build out of rural areas that was funded by the government?
Plenty of consumers should be receiving the warm home discount scheme if they are at that level of fuel poverty.
Anyhow there is something well awry with distribution charges in N.Scotland which were set when it was remote from generation and this pre Peterhead. Now of course there is wind generation but you have to balance that off against the times when its not windy but charges should be lowered for sure and im afraid the rest of us will have to pay a little more but that thats the fair way this country is supposed to work on.
Thanks for your comment, That section of highway was built in the 1970s. The real issue is that under privatisation there seems no way to force infrastructure investment over shareholder dividends - same goes for English water
Unfortunately all new connections for over 50yrs have needed to be funded by the customers. What did change 15 or so years back is you don't have to use the local distribution company to do all the works. So in this case the customers could engage an approved contractor to install an 11kV pole route back to Shieldaig as well as installing the transformers and LV cables to connect to individual premises. The final connection would then be done by SSE who are the distribution operator in this area. Not sure how many premises there are down here but an 11kV pole routes is c30k/km plus another 10-20K/pole transformer depending on rating. So on the face of it £1m seems a lot but the other wrinkle is getting wayleaves for the pole route could cost a fortune in legal fees and annual charges.
Perhaps the fish farm could tap into some subsidy scheme that might get a contribution but looks like its going to expensive as so few customers to share the burden with.