A new community energy supply is due to be launched in the Western Isles next week with a Scottish provider after the previous supplier – GB Energy – went bust.
Hebrides Energy is a partnership between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and Our Power, a not-for-profit energy supplier based in Edinburgh.
It is estimated that the lower tariff could result in an annual saving of over £400 to the average island household.
Norman MacLeod, chairman of the Hebridean Housing Partnership, said they will be urging all tenants in their 2,200 properties to sign up with Hebrides Energy after 6 March 2018.
A cooncil spokesman explained: “The Outer Hebrides has some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK. One of the strands we have been exploring is to tackle high fuel costs through the creation of a licensed electricity supply company. The ultimate objective is the supply of local energy to local customers through a community owned energy supply company.”
Hebrides Energy is a community interest company working in partnership with Our Power, whose spokesman added: “Our aim is to give consumers in the Outer Hebrides access to competitively priced, fairer energy.
“That’s why we have launched our Hebridean Variable tariff to offer great rates that we believe will make a real difference to customers’ energy bills.”
Our Power was established two years ago by 35 Scottish housing associations and local authorities.
Western Isles to bid for CfD wind subsidy auctions from 2019
Meanwhile, Cllr Roddie Mackay, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has welcomed the decision that European Commission has provided State Aid clearance for Remote Island Wind.
He said: “This is a critical milestone for renewable energy projects in the Outer Hebrides that removes a key barrier to island projects being able to compete in the next Contracts for Difference Auction which we anticipate happening in early 2019.
“The comhairle has lobbied hard over the past number of years for the State Aid submission and it is gratifying to see the issue resolved and State Aid clearance granted.
“Over the next period we will continue to work closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy around final definition of Remote Island Wind and to ensure the best possible access to the 2019 Auction for projects in the Scottish Islands.”
27 Feb 2018
Pixie Energy is an incubator and a facilitator of strategic research and project work, focusing on energy regulation, policy and markets at the local and national level. Find out more about Pixie Energy