West Dunbartonshire’s MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has raised concerns about the impact of soaring gas and electricity bills as figures show households in West Dunbartonshire paying on average £1,555 per year.
According to data from 2021 released by comparethemarket.com, households across Clydebank, Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven were paying 17.9% more than the energy price cap prior to it rising by £693 on 1st April.
Out of 408 local authorities in Great Britain, West Dunbartonshire came out as the 219th most expensive in the latest figures.
The data – which looks at average energy bills across the UK – also shows that people across Scotland are paying more on their bills than compared to England and Wales.
The UK government has faced criticism from the SNP for failing to get a grip on soaring gas and electricity prices, with the chief of energy regulator Ofgem warning MPs that energy bills are expected to rise again by £800 in October.
Commenting, local MP Martin Docherty-Hughes said:
“People across Scotland, including in West Dunbartonshire, are paying the price for sky high energy bills, despite Scotland having an abundance of resources in oil and gas and renewables.“Under Westminster control, the vast revenue from Scotland’s oil and gas industry has been squandered by UK governments for decades and now my constituents are getting hammered with higher energy bills.
“This is also a result of the outrageous and expensive transmission charges that are charged in Scotland for companies to access the national grid here.“The measures announced by the Chancellor last month – welcome though they were – will barely scratch the surface of the rocketing energy bills crippling households now and in the winter months to come.“High fuel bills in West Dunbartonshire and across Scotland lies squarely at the door of the Westminster government and shows why Scotland needs the full range of powers that will come with independence.”
The data on average UK energy bills broken down by local authority area is available at: www.comparethemarket.com/energy/content/the-energy-index/
