Prospect takes Longannet campaign to Holyrood

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Major parties must fight unfair charging system for Scotland’s power stations

On the eve of a key meeting in the Scottish parliament, Prospect is calling on all the major political parties to push for changes to electricity transmission charges and create a level playing field for Scotland’s electricity industry.

The union was speaking after ScottishPower’s recent warnings that National Grid’s high transmission charges are endangering the future of Longannet power station in Fife.

National Grid, which operates the transmission system, currently charges generators based on their location, which effectively provides an advantage for power stations closest to London, said the union representing engineers and professionals in energy, including 1,100 staff at ScottishPower.

“No other country in Europe operates such a geographically-based system,” said Prospect negotiator Richard Hardy. “It means that companies with generation assets in Scotland are placed at a disadvantage. Prospect wants all the major parties to try to achieve a better deal for power workers in Scotland.

“In the short term, the charging system is putting the future of Longannet power station at risk, along with hundreds of skilled jobs and 25% of Scotland’s generating capacity.”

The Scottish government says that while the country’s generators contribute around 12% of capacity connected to Britain’s high-voltage electricity network, they pay around 35% of the charges.

ScottishPower, National Grid and Ofgem are due to appear before the Scottish Parliament’s economy, energy and tourism committee on Wednesday 11 March.