Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP, Angus MacNeil is calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng, to use the mini-budget on Friday (23 September) to bring an end to excessive transmission charges in the north of Scotland (TNUoS).

Mr MacNeil has previously called for an end to the unjust transmission charges. 

On average it costs 46p per megawatt-hour (MWh) to transmit electricity from the European Union into the UK energy market.   However, in Scotland, the cost is £6.42 and £7.36 for the Highland and Islands - 16 times more than sending energy from Germany, France, or the Netherlands into the UK market. 

Mr MacNeil said: “In April, I met with Mr Kwarteng, while he was Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.  I called for an end to the unjust transmission charges in the north of Scotland and at that meeting, I was heartened that Mr Kwarteng indicated that something had to be done about the TNUoS charges.

“Energy could be produced in the Scottish Islands at the moment which could be equivalent to the 10% electricity that the UK is importing daily from the European Union. 

"However, renewable projects have been hampered or stopped because of the need to pay excessive transmission charges which have stopped clean green electricity from being generated. 

“Mr Kwarteng is now perhaps in an even more powerful position in Government to bring about change, a change I think he understands needs to be made. 

"The mini-budget on Friday would be the perfect opportunity to make these changes.

“I am not looking for preferential treatment for Scotland, I am looking for equality for Scotland with the European Union.”