SNP PRESSURE PAYING OFF FOR SCOTTISH ENERGY PRODUCERS

Today (Thursday) in the House of Commons SNP Shadow Energy spokesman, Mike Weir MP, welcomed a significant move by the Government to seriously review the Transmission Charges OFGEM has proposed for energy producers in Scotland.

OFGEM have moved slightly on the issue of financial guarantees but are still supporting the Transmission Charge regime that would discriminate against Scottish energy producers.

Commenting after his question at Trade & Industry Questions Mr Weir said:

"The fact that the SNP and Labour are neck and neck in the polls is paying off for Scotland as the Government now appears to be conceding that the Transmission Charges proposed by OFGEM are discriminatory against Scotland.

"It would be ridiculous that the most efficient form of renewable energy production in the north of Scotland be charged over £20 per kW to put energy on the grid, while generators in London would get a subsidy of £8 per kW.

"Scotland has a huge potential for renewable energy, yet that potential is endangered by the discriminatory system of transmission charges dreamt up by OFGEM. The SNP has always believed that this must be tackled as a matter of urgency.

"That the Trade & Industry Minister is now prepared to look again at these charges shows that the SNP's campaigning is paying off for energy producers in Scotland and hopefully will also help hard pressed consumers.

"With the SNP leading the agenda and scoring such concessions it would only be logical for voters to conclude that a change of Government in Scotland would be a natural move to make."