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Energy ministers today hailed the likely renewal of a £50 million electricity bill rebate for consumers in northern Scotland as showing the benefits of a united Britain.
Secretary of state Ed Davey is visiting Aberdeen as government launches a consultation on keeping the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme.
The scheme knocks £31 off the average household bill for 690,000 consumers exposed to some of the highest electricity distribution costs in the country, and discounts bills for 70,000 non-domestic customers. It is paid for by customers across the UK, costing the average household less than £1 a year.
“This scheme is another example of how Scotland currently benefits from being part of the United Kingdom,” said Davey. “I believe wholeheartedly that Scotland is stronger as part of the UK, and that the UK is stronger with Scotland in it.”
Energy minister John Hayes added: “This scheme cushions consumers in the North of Scotland from the high costs of distributing electricity over a sparsely populated area. It shows that as one nation with a shared energy market, the British are stronger together.
“We are proposing to retain this scheme so that consumers in the North of Scotland will continue to receive this discount.”
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