I believe they're using electric storage heaters for heating rather than gas, so it's three times the price for heat generated if the off-peak pricing for electric is cancelled as appears to be. It needs an MP or MSP to raise it.
I presume in the Highlands a fair few houses are electric only? I'm pretty shocked they can get away with this. Not to rub salt in the wound bit storage heaters without off peak pricing is the worst of both worlds.
Yes, old storage heaters in the hall, kitchen and landing, an electric towel rail on the heating circuit in the bathroom (which is annoying because it's never on when I'm actually having a shower) and panel heaters on the normal circuit in the bedrooms and what was the dining room but is now Mr F's office. Only a log burner in the living room and that also does our hot water - we do have electric back up if needed, but that's never used in winter because the fire is lot most of the time.
We do get a reduced rate on the storage heater circuit, which uses about 8,000kwh a year, but that's gone from about 7p when we bought the house in 2008 to something like 16p now and the normal rate and standing charge aren't competitive. It's only in the last couple of years you've even been able to switch away from this tariff, because no other companies could cope with the two meter set up that wasn't economy 7.
A lot of houses in the Highlands run off oil, that's the other main fuel for heating, but it's also quite prone to theft - no one locks their tank round me, because it's better 'just' to have your oil taken and have to refill at c. £500 than your oil taken and your tank destroyed by someone hacking a hole in it with power tools.
It's somewhat ironic that we're surrounded by windfarms where I live (currently over 200 turbines in planning within 20 miles of me) and yet have some of the most expensive heating costs in the UK.
I am currently waiting for our builder to get back to me with a quote for ripping the house back to stone, insulating it properly and fitting an air source heat pump with underfloor heating, as well as building an extension, but he's so busy that he hasn't got back to me yet - he's had the plans since September.
Dreading what the bill for the village hall is going to be as well, which I'm treasurer for, as business tariffs are uncapped. I've seen renewal quotes of standing charge at £2 a day and 50p a kwh from other businesses in the area.