Energy Minister Jim Mather has called for an independent review of electricity transmission charging.

The Energy and Climate Change Committee of the House of Commons this week recommended that the UK Government commissions an independent review of transmission charging methodology.

Mr Mather, who is already leading work to prepare options for change to the current system, has welcomed The future of Britain's electricity networks report and has now written to Secretary of State Ed Miliband to demand that action is taken.

Mr Mather said: "Scotland is united against the transmission charging regime which works against the development of clean, renewable energy in Scotland by forcing generators to pay millions of pounds more to use the grid. That has to end.


"I welcome the Committee's report as an important and comprehensive contribution to the debate on how to deliver the necessary transition to a low carbon and sustainable energy future.

"With our vast natural resources and a level playing field, we can be the clean green energy powerhouse of Europe. Yet the current locational based approach for charging for connection and use of the grid is a significant barrier to encouraging renewable development - at the very time when we need to grow our green energy sector."

The locational charging methodology levies higher charges on generators furthest from the main centres of demand for connection and use of the grid. This favours generation in the southern part of the UK and presents an inbuilt bias in the UK transmission regulatory system against Scottish based generation.

As a result, Scottish generators produce 12 per cent of UK generation, but account for 40 per cent of the transmission costs, or about £100 million per year more than their fair share.

(GK/BMcC)