The powers of independence will allow energy policy to be designed to protect the interests of consumers and make sure people are treated transparently and fairly. Appropriate information on energy tariffs will help customers decide which company to go with, and help make prices competitive.

Different parties will put forward proposals on energy prices and other issues and it will be for the people of Scotland to decide the approach they want in future elections. The current Scottish Government proposes the transfer of responsibility for the Energy Company Obligation and the Warm Homes Discount from energy companies to the Scottish Government, meeting the costs from central government budgets. By passing on these cost reductions to their consumers, energy companies would reduce customer bills by around five per cent or approximately £70 per year.

The current Scottish Government will task the combined economic regulator with ensuring an open and competitive energy market, which protects the interests of Scottish consumers while ensuring a fair return on investment for energy companies. The energy arm of the Scottish Regulator could, in principle, be based at the Scottish offices of Ofgem.

Source: Scotland's Future, Scottish Government, November 2013.

Yes. The current UK regulatory model has done little to increase households’ ability to access low cost ‘dual fuel’ tariffs, where gas and electricity are provided by the same supplier. Around nine per cent of households in Scotland are without mains gas and 43 per cent of these households live in fuel poverty.

Under the limited powers currently available to it, the current Scottish Government is doing everything possible to meet the statutory target to eradicate fuel poverty as far as is reasonably practicable by 2016. With independence, and if in power following the 2016 election, we will transfer responsibility for the Energy Company Obligation and the Warm Homes Discount from energy companies to the Scottish Government, meeting the costs from central government budgets. By passing on these cost reductions to their consumers, energy companies would be required to reduce bills by around five per cent or approximately £70 per year.

We are also committed to retaining the statutory target. Our approach is that, following independence, there should be a commitment to continue the overall levels of funding available to tackle fuel poverty – currently at least £200 million a year.

Source: Scotland's Future, Scottish Government, November 2013.