In a move that’s got households fuming, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has called out the UK Labour Government for scrapping the idea of zonal pricing — a shift that might have cut bills for thousands. Families already staring down record costs now want answers.
The Promise That Never Was
Energy costs in Scotland feel like a cruel joke to many. Swinney’s piece in the Daily Record didn’t mince words: Labour’s rejection of zonal pricing left a bitter taste. The SNP leader argued that Scots, living in a country rich with wind and tidal resources, shouldn’t be forking out the same sky-high rates as folks in London.
Bills keep climbing. The SNP claims zonal pricing could’ve knocked hundreds off annual costs. But Labour says the plan would’ve meant unfair price hikes for others. Swinney says that’s no excuse when Scots are drowning in fuel poverty.
One line from a pensioner sums it up: “I live by the sea, surrounded by turbines — yet I still freeze in winter.” That stings.
Labour’s Calculated Gamble
Keir Starmer’s team has been keen to stress its national approach. They’re sticking with a standard price regardless of geography, worried that splitting zones would stoke regional resentment.
So far, so political. But critics argue that the uniform rate punishes regions that actually produce the power. Scotland exports a big chunk of its renewable energy, yet still gets stuck with the same bill as an inner-city flat in the Midlands.
Let’s break it down:
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Scotland generates nearly all its own electricity and exports around a third to the rest of the UK.
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The idea was simple: if transmission costs were zonal, areas closer to generation would pay less.
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National Grid estimates say a zonal model could have trimmed average bills in Scotland by at least £60-£100 per household.
One sentence here: Critics say Labour’s position is all about political optics, not fairness.
Swinney’s Counterattack
The SNP is milking this moment. Swinney’s not just complaining — he’s piling on the pressure for Labour to spell out an actual plan.
He points out that Starmer pledged to cut annual energy costs by £300. But according to the Energy Saving Trust, the average Scottish household now pays around £150 more than they did when Labour took power.
In his Daily Record column, Swinney didn’t hold back: “They’re quick to say what they won’t do. It’s time they say what they will do to help ordinary Scots.”
Fair point. The promise is starting to look like empty words.
Reality Check: Who Really Loses?
Energy experts have been trying to work out who’d win and lose under zonal pricing. It’s messy.
One energy consultant told me: “It’s not as simple as Highland villagers paying less while Manchester pays more. The entire grid would need recalculating.”
A recent House of Commons briefing paper put it bluntly. Zonal pricing would benefit areas with lots of renewable generation and sparse populations. That’s basically large parts of Scotland and Wales.
Here’s a snapshot:
| Region | Potential Bill Change | Main Energy Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highlands | -£100 | Wind |
| Central Belt | -£60 | Mixed renewables |
| London | +£70 | Imported electricity |
| North England | +£50 | Gas & imports |
One line: You can see why Labour’s HQ panicked.
Fuel Poverty Still Haunts Thousands
Let’s not forget the real story. For thousands of Scots, this isn’t a debate — it’s daily life.
Charities say around a third of households in rural Scotland live in fuel poverty. That’s the highest in the UK. It’s hard to heat old stone homes when the mercury plunges and electricity is king.
A young mum from Inverness told local radio: “I cook with electricity, heat with electricity. Everything’s electric — but it costs a bomb. Zonal pricing felt like hope.”
Politicians squabble. Bills keep coming. That’s the problem.
What Happens Now?
Swinney wants the UK Government to cough up answers — and fast. He’s demanding Labour shows its maths: how exactly will it slash bills by £450 to keep that campaign pledge alive?
People aren’t waiting with bated breath, though. Scottish Greens have floated wiping out millions in unpaid council tax to free up cash for bills. The Tories are pushing new assessments for disability benefits, saying it’ll help target cost-of-living help better.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s big turbines keep spinning. Offshore wind booms. Export cables hum with energy flowing south. And yet the radiator stays off in half the Highlands because folks can’t afford to switch it on.
Is there a fix? Hard to say. But as the autumn chill creeps in, families will be asking who they can really trust to keep them warm — and whether big promises will actually mean something this time.
