Responding to the SNP’s claims blaming rising costs on a so-called “nuclear tax,” the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) said Scotland is in fact missing out on billions of pounds of investment and high-paid jobs because of the SNP’s opposition to new nuclear, while households are being hit with higher bills due to an unstable grid due to a lack of nuclear, £1.2 billion a year in balancing costs, and the UK’s highest transmission charges.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said:
“Scotland could have the high-paid jobs in nuclear and the billions in investment that are going to England, if the SNP got out of the way and allowed new nuclear to be built where communities are asking for them.
“The biggest reason energy bills are rising is that Scotland has an unstable grid that doesn’t have enough nuclear baseload: it is costing £1.2 billion a year to balance the grid in Scotland, and transmission charges are the highest in the country and rising. All of that ends up on people’s bills, and the SNP’s nuclear ban will only make that worse as the years go by.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Cornwall Insight says households face an extra £30 on their energy bills from April 2026 and £50 by 2028 as rising charges to operate and maintain Great Britain’s electricity transmission network take effect: https://www.cornwall-insight.com/press-and-media/press-release/rising-transmission-costs-to-add-30-to-household-energy-bills-from-next-april/
- Consumers will contribute around £1 per month during the construction of Sizewell C. The enduring payoff will be reliable, low-carbon electricity and significantly reduced bills.
About the NIA
As the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, the Nuclear Industry
Association represents over 300 companies across the UK’s nuclear supply chain.
Links
Visit our website: https://www.niauk.org/
Follow the NIA on X @NIAUK and LinkedIn
For further information, please contact:
Iolo James
Head of Communications
[email protected]g
+447517108023
