An off-grid future for Scotland?

More than a thousand local authorities in the US have taken over the running of their own utilities. They argue that public control creates three vital benefits. Power supply is not run for the benefit of absentee shareholders. Communities are free to decide whether to invest in renewable energy. The electricity is cheaper, and any profit goes to the community.

The shift away from the grid in the US means fewer customers are left to cover the costs of maintaining the infrastructure, so charges for them are going up. Despite this, the U.S. Department of Energy approves of the new movement, recognising the inexorable change that is happening. Solar energy is dropping in price as oil supplies become more expensive. People with solar panels send in their meter readings and wait happily for the cheque while those with oil tanks pay more for every refill. A transformation is beginning. Scotland, for sure, should be looking at a shift to democratic control by local communities of their power supplies. Independence from the tyranny of the quarterly bill and its fat profits would be an excellent thing.