Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2009 - inflation indexation changes: equality impact assessment

The Scope of the EQIA

The EQIA has assessed the potential impact of the amendment to the inflation indexation of the ROS by considering whether the equality evidence indicates potential differential impacts on persons with protected characteristics or provides an opportunity to improve equality. In line with the requirements of the general equality duty, it considers the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited under the act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not
• Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not

The amendments to the ROS (as summarised in the section above) are narrow in nature, and the Scottish Government does not consider these to have an equality impact, as they represent a technical change to a support scheme for renewable energy generators. Any reductions to consumer bills resulting from the change will be marginal and therefore unlikely to have a meaningful impact on affordability.

The following protected characteristics have been considered as part of the EQIA:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender Reassignment
• Pregnancy and Maternity
• Race
• Religion or Belief
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation