The Scottish Government should be fighting for zonal pricing

The National

3 days ago

So, where's the outcry from the SNP or Greens? Where's the analysis by broadcasters at this enormous economic slap in the face by Westminster to Scotland? There's only a deafening silence.
Now, unquestionably, energy pricing is complicated. The media has few dedicated energy correspondents. And government ministers experience endless lobbying by developers. Yes, poor lambs, it's difficult.
But for folk facing 1300 actual and proposed wind farm developments in Highland glens and Europe's highest energy bills, it's actually very easy.
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The UK Government could have reformed a widely criticised energy pricing structure to give renewables-producing Scots cheaper bills. They didn't. And our own Scottish Government could have complained. But they didn't. So now, the people will.
The UK rejection of zonal pricing means Scottish voters surrounded by 'green crap' – as David Cameron used to call turbines, pylons, battery plants, converter stations, cables, construction traffic and hardware – have no reason to stay green, tolerant, trusting or broad-minded.
On this issue, they also have no reason to vote Labour, the SNP or Green in 2026.
These parties could have backed Octopus Energy boss Greg Jackson, who believes zonal pricing would give Scots some of the lowest bills and Scotland the lowest electricity costs in Europe. He claims zonal pricing would encourage energy-hungry industries like data centres, AI supercomputers and other manufacturers to move to Scotland from the over-heated, energy-expensive south of England. That could have happened. But it won't.
Instead, green energy is being cabled at huge expense to the south of England and Highland glens are becoming the collective sacrifice zone for the whole UK.
Now, it's true, there are worries about zonal pricing. Some 55 firms wrote to the UK Government warning that zonal pricing would make projects too risky to complete and the UK Energy Research Centre said government auctions for new wind farms could cost £20 more per megawatt-hour, as investors priced in additional risk.
So even daring to dream about lower bills will end up costing Highland consumers more.
Wow. What a load of scaremongering tripe.
Here's a different perspective.
John Proctor, convener of Energy Scotland (a new policy group of energy professionals) and former general manager of electricity generator InterGen UK ,says: 'Most big renewable investments participate in the Contracts for Difference mechanism which insulates developers from market price fluctuations.
'Ed Miliband must broaden his mind and explore solutions beyond those offered by the London-based market consultants, market traders and industry lobby groups who thrive on market complexity and volatility. You would not reform the gambling industry based upon the advice of casino owners.
'From a Scottish perspective, we have a surplus of generation and managing congestion is a challenge. Mr Miliband has battery storage in mind – but that only offers a very short-term solution. A truly strategic move would be to encourage green hydrogen – with electrolysers and fuel cells – which community groups might own for a sustainable storage solution. This market model exists and if Scotland had control of energy policy, strategy and governance through independence, could be readily implemented.'
But as things stand, it won't.
Instead, the Scottish Government is rubber-stamping a wild-west, wind-developer free-for-all. The damage this will do to the SNP as a party and to independence is incalculable.
As Times commentator Iain Macwhirter warns: 'Green energy has become a more potent recruiting sergeant for the right than immigration. It's no accident Nigel Farage is saying net zero is the new Brexit.' Indeed.
No Yesser is surprised that zonal pricing was rejected by Westminster Labour.
But why has our own First Minister sat on the fence?
The danger is that renewable energy – an independent Scotland's greatest asset – is fast becoming a political liability for the SNP.
Of course, it's Labour pushing through the big connectors, pylons and legally set objectives for green energy that have apparently prompted the Scottish Government lawyers to say every wind farm proposed in the Highlands must be nodded through – all 1300 of them.
But everyone is blaming the Scottish Government because they believed planning would restore some sense of order and proportion. It hasn't.
Yes, of course there's a massive need for green energy. But the way it's being done means small community energy projects are being sent to the back of the queue for grid connection, while Strathdearn – 22 miles long – has enough turbines projected and built to power 70% of Scottish households. And sky-high bills.
It's as if Miliband thinks Scots are compliant suckers who won't complain. But it's also as if our own government thinks the same.
Otherwise, why has the Scottish Government not used its control over planning to force community space on the grid, force developers into joint community ownership projects, overturned projects rejected by Highland Council and, while we're at it, not moved to break up the massive Highland Council so communities have actual local planning power?
Of course, the big boys and developers won't like that. But balancing demands is what governance is all about.
As it is, Farage only has to promise a halt to all wind farm proposals and Reform will clean up.
You could feel sorry for local MSPs like Kate Forbes and Maree Todd, but the SNP's determination to ignore communities is part of the problem.
(Image: PA)
Established parties think the world stands still, but it doesn't. Zarah Sultana (above) knows that in England. It's too early to say how the Scottish wing of her new party will operate. But Highland campaigners who've been pro green energy and pro independence are now thinking of standing candidates in 2026 to halt the wind farms till a strategy is produced, because the SNP are acting as if a commercial-wind-farm-covered Highlands is a done deal.
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Economy minister and local MSP Forbes will say nothing on the record because of active planning proposals. But she may believe Scotland needs Westminster-funded grid improvements in the same way we need railway connections and broadband. But Scotland can take the grid without playing host to every wind farm – surely?
The Western Isles are also affected. Their long-awaited subsea connector will take energy to the mainland grid via Skye. But now that island has a new larger cable, it too has hundreds of wind farm applications – and if the new grid is filled with Skye energy, there'll be no space left for Outer Hebrides communities to feed into it as well. What a total mess.
There's no doubt the British Government is to blame. Brave Miliband and the Labour Government at Westminster have caved to big banks who are hugely invested in the current trading 'game', whereby wind farms are paid billions not to produce (kerching) while Britain imports gas from the continent (kerching) and renewables-rich Scotland cannot escape the crazy, privatised mess we never voted for in the first place.
But at least southern voters can calm down – don't worry, chaps. Bold lads and lasses in faraway Highland glens will produce cheap green energy for you, thole the visual and construction interference, get bawbees in payback and help pay for the turbines, cables, cables, pylons, giant converter stations needed to get their energy to you while still paying among the highest energy bills in Europe.
Even the Daily Mail might agree – this is crazy. There's no reason why the south east can't become as energy self-sufficient as Scotland, removing the need for vast wind farms here and expensive inter-connectors.
But who is making this political argument?
Not the SNP. Why the heck not?