MSP calls for £100 water bill rebate for 111, 046 households in the Highland Council area
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MSP Rhoda Grant has called for a one-off £100 water tax rebate for households in the Highland Council area to tackle the cost of living crisis caused by the pandemic.
Last month, Scottish Labour interim leader Jackie Baillie revealed the existence of a cash stash worth over half a billion pounds in the bank vaults of Scottish Water and its subsidiaries.
Despite the existence of this cash stash, Scottish Water plans to follow through on inflation-busting water price hikes.
Today, Mrs Grant is calling for the excess cash to be used to deliver a one-off £100 water tax rebate for every household in the Highland Council area, benefitting 111,046 households.
She said: “It is time the hard-pressed families of the Highlands got money back from this obscene cash stash.
“It is clear that water customers across the Highlands have been overcharged for years and they need the money in their household budgets at this time, not sitting unused in Scottish Water’s bank vaults.
“Not only can a water rebate be easily afforded from the cash Scottish Water has stashed away, it means that any planned above-inflation water charge increases can be dropped for a number of years to come.
“By delivering an immediate flat-rate £100 rebate on their next water bill, every household in the Highlands will benefit - with the poorest households benefiting most. It will put cash into the pockets of 111,046 households."
Mrs Grant added: “This is the sort of good news that households across the Highlands need after a hard winter. It is, after all, our money - as the people of Scotland own Scottish Water.”
Scottish Water have been invited to comment.
Read more about Rhoda Grant.
