Zonal energy pricing would hit investment

The“uncertainty” over zonal pricing would have hit Scotland worse than other parts of the UK, Rutherglen’s MP has said.

- ANDREW QUINN

Labour's energy minister Michael Shanks said charging Scottish electricity users less than the south of England would have been a “huge risk” to investment north of the border.

It comes after the UK Government dumped plans to make electricity costs lower in areas where there is less demand.

Shanks said: “Transitioning to zonal pricing would have led to at least seven years of uncertainty, and that uncertainty would have hit Scotland more than any other part of the UK.

“Because at the moment, the significant amount of investment that’s pouring into Scotland through the clean energy mission, that is delivering jobs and investment across the country, and we were not prepared to put that at risk.