Scrap "unfair" standing charges, urge MPs

Meanwhile, Mr O’Hara and Drew Hendry, SNP MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, met Ofgem to talk about the Highland Energy Rebate Campaign.

The campaign advocates for a rebate scheme for residents in the Highlands and Islands who contribute significantly to the UK’s renewable energy production.

It targets the imbalance in energy costs, particularly for those in off-grid areas who cannot access cheaper energy alternatives.

Mr O’Hara called on Ofgem to scrap standing charges completely, saying: “Ofgem has an opportunity to right this wrong in their review of standing charges," he said.

"These high standing charges impact households, unfairly penalising people on lower incomes and those looking to use less energy.

“It is vital that we see fair energy pricing implemented as soon as possible.

"The inequity is clear: people living in the Highlands and Islands face disproportionately high bills and fuel poverty despite living in an energy-rich region that produces up to six times the energy it uses through renewable sources.

“There is an urgent need to address this inequality and create an energy market based on fairness.

"Introducing a Highland Energy Rebate alongside scrapping standing charges should be at the very top of the list.”

Ofgem is currently still reviewing standing charges and is yet to release a conclusive report on its findings. The internal review comes after the charge more than doubled over the past two years.

An Ofgem spokesperson said: “We know that standing charges have provoked a huge amount of debate in recent months, with different balances to be struck, which is why we opened a call for input, and more than 30,000 people have responded to share their views.

“We know that with wider cost-of living-pressures, people are concerned about their bills, so we will now use these responses to inform how we approach this complex issue and set out next steps in due course."