PEOPLE living in Shetland have been warned they could need to earn over £100,000 to avoid fuel poverty, according to the islands' council.
It estimates that by April, the average energy cost in the Isles could be as much as £10,000 per year.
This is more than double the rest of the UK with islanders being told they would need to earn at least £104,000 to afford their bills.
A survey conducted found that 96% of households could be spending 10% of their income on energy costs.
READ MORE: Ian Blackford tells UK Government to match Scotland's cost of living crisis support
The islands' significantly colder climate along with poor insulation and a lack of cheaper energy options is expected to aggravate the effects of the cost-of-living crisis in the community.
Council leader Emma Macdonald has now written to Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi calling for immediate government intervention.
The council also said that, despite being at the heart of the oil and gas industry, they had not seen the benefits of lower energy prices.
The UK Chancellor came in for criticism this week as he travelled to the US to meet with top bankers amid a worsening cost of living crisis.
According to the Treasury, Zahawi is in America to seek joint solutions to the crisis although Labour have condemned the taxpayer-funded trip as “another junket at the taxpayer’s expense”.
READ MORE: We need to take back control of Scotland’s energy resources
Last Friday, UK energy regulator Ofgem said the price cap would rise by more than 80% from £1971 to £3459 from October.
It is then expected to rise again to over £5000 by January, according to money saving expert Martin Lewis.
The Highlands and Islands Homes Warmth Group, alongside the Good Law Project and Fuel Poverty Action, announced plans to sue Ofgem over what they called a “failure to mitigate the impact of rising energy bills on consumers”.
More to follow.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel