MIDLOTHIAN AND EAST LOTHIAN PAYING OVER £1500 PER YEAR ON ENERGY BILLS, RANKING IN TOP 200 MOST EXPENSIVE IN GREAT BRITAIN

HOUSEHOLDS IN SCOTLAND PAYING MORE COMPARED TO ENGLAND AND WALES
 
Households in Midlothian are paying an average of £1,574 per year paying over £1500 per year, making it the 196th most expensive place in the UK for energy bills. Households in East Lothian are paying an average of £1,613 per year making it the 148th most expensive place in the UK for energy bills.
 
Out of 408 local authorities in Great Britain, Midlothian and East Lothian ranked in the top 200 most expensive.
 
According to data from comparethemarket.com, households in Midlothian are already paying 18.9% more than the price cap that is set to be introduced in October this year with households in East Lothian paying 20.8% more.
 
The data also shows that people across Scotland are paying more on their bills than compared to England and Wales.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
"People across Scotland, including in Midlothian and East Lothian are 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 Midlothian and East Lothian who are getting hammered with higher average energy bills, with bills here being in the top 200 most expensive in Great Britain.

"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.

"High fuel bills in Midlothian, East Lothian and across Scotland lies squarely at the door of the Westminster government and shows why Scotland needs the full range of powers that will come with independence."