First Minister John Swinney has renewed calls for greater control over Scotland’s energy resources, arguing that increased powers for the Scottish Government could help shield households and businesses from rising costs.
The intervention comes as Ofgem’s energy price cap rises from today (Wednesday), increasing by an average of £18.40 per month to £1,862 annually. The change represents a 13% increase in yearly fuel bills for a typical dual fuel household, driven largely by higher global energy costs linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
New estimates from the Scottish Government suggest that around 800,000 households – equivalent to 31% of all homes in Scotland – could be living in fuel poverty between July and September. This marks an increase of approximately 110,000 households compared to figures for April to June.
Responding to the rise, Mr Swinney acknowledged the growing financial strain on households, particularly amid the wider cost of living crisis.
“I know the prospect of further energy bill increases will be causing anxiety for many people who are already struggling with the cost of living,” he said.
He highlighted existing support measures, including the Scottish Welfare Fund and the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme, and urged those in need to check their eligibility for assistance.
However, the First Minister also criticised the UK Government’s record on energy costs, pointing to previous commitments to reduce bills.
“Just two years ago, the UK Government came to power promising to cut people’s bills by £300, yet they are soaring higher and higher. It is simply not good enough,” he said.
Mr Swinney argued that Scotland’s natural energy resources should be leveraged more effectively to benefit its population, suggesting that devolving further powers could help stabilise prices and reduce reliance on global market fluctuations.
“It does not need to be like this. Scotland is an energy rich country, so nobody should be struggling to pay their bills – if the UK Government was serious about devolving more power away from Westminster they would finally put control of Scotland’s energy resources in Scotland’s hands,” he added.
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Looking ahead, the First Minister emphasised the importance of transitioning to a cleaner and more secure energy system.
“Our future lies in clean, affordable and secure power – strengthening affordability, resilience and competitiveness, and protecting people and businesses from their energy bills being dictated by international events,” he said.
He concluded by reiterating his call for greater autonomy over energy policy, stating that placing control in Scotland’s hands would allow the country to “make our vast energy wealth work for us and bring down bills.”
