September 19, 2025

It is time to i-Switch

Scotland pays too much for its own energy!

It’s time for i-Switch

Scottish energy bills are amongst the highest in the world. Scotland generates abundant low cost renewable power, but unfair pricing means you pay more than most of the UK.

The i-Switch guarantees massive savings because without the high cost UK energy market, prices would be far lower

Why is energy so expensive for Scots?

- √ Standing charges are unfair. Scots pay daily fees just to be connected. Scots pay higher standing charges than in England, and it can be higher in rural Scotland.
- √ Scotland is being ripped off. Labour Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, refused
  to cut Scotland’s additional charges, saying it would be “unfair” to make the Midlands
  and South of England pay more!
- √ Regional pricing disadvantages Scotland. Experts such as Greg Jackson (Octopus Energy) have said Scots could have near-free energy if pricing reflected local supply, but Westminster says NO.
- √ No more subsidising the UK. The UK Government uses Scotland’s energy to subsidise England’s economic growth. Scots businesses pay the world’s highest energy costs because of outdated and unfair UK energy policies that damage Scotland’s economy.

But is Scotland really being ripped-off for its energy costs?

Yes, we are and we have the ability to significantly cut those costs by half at least but maybe two thirds, but not if we stay within the UK’s failed energy market this is why:

In the UK, electricity prices are set by a system called marginal pricing that means the last (and most expensive) source of energy needed to meet demand sets the price for all electricity.
Gas power stations are the most expensive to generate electricity from, partly because most gas is imported, it is highly volatile in price, and linked to global markets. The UK as a whole needs electricity generated from gas powered stations, as much as 40% of the energy mix fed into the electricity grid at times.
Scotland generates far cheaper renewables (wind, hydro, solar), and it generates enough to meet all domestic demand but the UK system still effectively pegs Scottish consumers energy prices to the most expensive electricity generated from gas burning power stations.
Result: Scottish households pay far more than they should, gas dictates the bill, even if most power came from cheaper Scottish renewables. In an independent Scotland the price would never be determined by the cost of electricity generated from gas.

But wait there is more!

Scottish consumers are charged extra just for being connected to the UK grid. Daily Standing Charges are far higher in Scotland than in England. That means that Scottish consumers pay more for energy before using a single unit of electricity. This outdated system was designed decades ago largely around the distance of your home from coal power stations in England, coal fired power stations that no longer exist. If it were recalculated around proximity to Scotland’s modern renewable infrastructure, Scottish consumers would pay less. So Scots are paying more, than consumers in England despite the fact that it is Scotland producing the cleaner, cheaper energy.

From October 2025 Northern Scotland's (everyone above the central belt) average electricity bills assuming similar usage will be around £60.00 a year higher than say people who live in England East Midlands. But Northern Scotland is colder and we need more electricity to heat our homes and customers in Inverness are actually charges about 1.5p per kilowatt hour more for electricity than customers in Yorkshire.

In other words just of standing charges alone Scottish families are paying approximately £150 million pounds collectively a year extra for electricity just because they live in Scotland rather than Nottingham - thats like Robin Hood in reverse right?

It’s also damaging Scotland Economy

Scottish businesses pay the world’s highest commercial energy costs because of outdated and unfair UK energy policies that damage Scotland’s economy, costing jobs and investment.

Norway (Scotland’s identical twin nation) charges consumers about 10p per kilowatt hour for electricity. In Scotland (before extra standing charges) we pay about 28p per kilowatt hour. Almost three times more and Norway is planning on bringing in a new anti-inflation measure to make households better off - they will be charged 3p per kilowatt hour. Three pence. Yes you got that right, it wasn't a typo (23.5p per kilowatt hour less than the average price across Scotland. They call that policy “The Norway Price”. You pay the "Price of the UK".

Scottish customers are paying the price of being tied to the failing UK system as energy would be far cheaper in an independent Scotland.

Soaring energy prices are the key reason that we have had a cost of living crisis as the cost of energy impacts on everything, not just your own energy bills. Norway is addressing energy driven inflation whilst the UK is increasing your energy prices.

Make it Make Sense?

So businesses pay more for energy, consumers like you pay more for energy, you pay more for food and essentials because of energy driven inflation and then you get charged more just for living in Scotland - even though we can produce all the cheap renewable energy we need. UK energy policy is hammering Scotland's economy, and it's subsiding England's failed energy market. Independence would cost you less.

So what is i-Switch?

i-Switch simply stands for switching to independence. Energy will be massively cheaper in an independent Scotland. Westminster controls our energy market, forcing Scots to pay for the UK’s environmentally damaging and costly energy mix, including nuclear and gas, while Scotland’s wind and hydro power are sold cheaply south of the border.

Support our demand for independence for an energy system that works for Scotland’s families and businesses.

i-Switch to independence and take control of Scotland’s energy bills!