Would you be for or against zonal energy pricing?

[D20]

Very quick overview if you’ve not heard of it before:

Loads of energy is produced by wind turbines in Scotland that can’t be sent to Southampton, for instance, without a significant upgrade in infrastructure. Octopus boss suggested offering lower energy prices locally to encourage high energy users like data centres to build there using cheaper energy where it is produced.

There are positive and negatives to such a scheme. I think I’m in favour overall from an environmental point of view but I don’t think I’d personally get cheaper energy as a result.

YABU - no, price should be the same throughout the UK
YANBU - zonal pricing should be applied

I'm broadly in favour of anything that brings employment to the north of the UK.

Or just use energy not produced by wind turbines

I think what the increase in standing charges has shown is what ever happens to bring down your per unit spend (reduction in production costs, or less usage down to more efficient appliances); it doesn't actually matter to the end user as the energy companies will claw back the money in another way.

I am for more green energy production, but I don't think anything will actually save users money.

Would I spend millions building a data centre in the north based solely on the promise of cheaper energy? No. I wouldn't trust the bastards to the agreement for the life of the centre