Energy market arrangements in an independent Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

During the "It's Scotland’s Energy" debate at Holyrood on 28th May 2026, Michael Marra asked Stephen Gethins how independence would deliver a third off energy bills. This was Stephen Gethin's response:

"You could do stuff like having a social contract, for example. A social tariff, for instance, that would help lower the bills for those most in need. Just one thing that you could do."

Please provide the following information:

1. A list of all the other things the Scottish Government believes it could do to deliver a third off energy bills with independence.

2. For each of the things that would help to lower energy bills with independence, please quantify the savings that particular thing would be expected to deliver (with supporting evidence, where available) and demonstrate that these savings add up to a third off bills.

3. A point of clarification: Stephen Gethins answer was specifically about those "most in need". Is the Scottish Government's position that all households would get a third off energy bills with independence, or just those most in need?

Response

Measures the Scottish Government could take to lower energy bills with independence are discussed in A Fresh Start with Independence available on the Scottish Government website. That publication sets out that with independence, Scotland would decide its own energy market arrangements, including decisions about the determination of energy prices and resulting energy bills.

The Scottish Government’s position is that a social tariff in the form of targeted unit rate discounts should be offered to those most in need now by the UK Government. In addition to this, the Scottish Government believes electricity bills should be reduced for all, but that additional targeted support for the most in need, such as through a social tariff, would also be appropriate.

Published scenario modelling for a social tariff, based on the results from the 2023 Scottish House Condition Survey, showed that around 660,000 households in Scotland would see their estimated fuel bills go down by an average of £700 with the introduction of a Social Tariff. This is available on the Scottish Government’s website: Scenario Modelling on Social Energy Tariff Proposal

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