Council plans to sell cheaper electricity to islanders 5/10/14
The Comhairle plans to help island families save around £130 a year on fuel costs by selling electricity cheaper than big suppliers.
The council intends to set up a joint venture partnership with an existing licensed electricity supplier to offer a special community tariff to families and businesses within the Outer Hebrides.
It is to set up its own energy supply company with the ultimate aim of selling locally generated renewable electricity at more competitive prices than presently available to island households.
A council report suggested an average of £130 a year in reduced electricity prices for each household is a “realistic target to aim for in the short term.”
At present, three suppliers are interested in coming to a deal and the council wants
to be launched to the local market as soon as possible -
Initially, this could be under a “white label” arrangement where a big supplier offers
a cheaper price to islanders under a Hebridean-
In the longer term, the council hopes to negotiate agreements with a raft of community
wind turbine operators and the commercial operator of the planned large Stornoway
wind farm -