Wyndford residents protest over energy prices at SSE offices in Glasgow

Members of the Wyndford Residents Union assembled at the Waterloo Street offices with Maryhill flags and kazoos to demand negotiations with the energy company.

They are accusing SEE of “creating fuel poverty” and “stonewalling” them after several requests from residents and local politicians to enter negotiations to help households with energy costs.

Wyndford residents gathered outside SSE's offices in Glasgow's Waterloo Street.

Protesters were holding the iconic Maryhill flag.

READ MORE: Utility bills soar by more than a third compared to last year

Nick Durie, from the Wyndford Residents Union, said: “MSPs from all parties have got involved and have written letters so it’s not a political thing.

“SSE are still refusing to negotiate, they are stonewalling us, and that’s why we’re here today and we’re not going away.

“They’ve got headquarters in Perth, so perhaps we’ll see them there if they don’t come and see us soon.”

Nick Durie, from the Wyndford Residents Union.

It comes after another protest was held in April at the Wyndford district heating facility.

According to SSE’s website, the 1.2 megawatt power plant burns gas to generate energy, which is sold to the National Grid.

The hot water left over in the process is then piped to the 1800 homes in the estate, creating a cheaper and more sustainable source of energy.

The scheme was initially introduced in 2011 to alleviate fuel poverty, but now residents claim this did not happen.

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Mr Durie added: “Ten years of a scheme that was designed to end fuel poverty, ten years it has been creating fuel poverty.

“The very high prices went up again in April by about 50%, which was not justified, since this company made a 15-fold increase in their profit to £1.5bn.

“In the Wyndford, they give us the by-product of gas burning.

“That waste water we were told it would be almost free but right from the very beginning there has been a price gauging, shame on them.”

The residents are being supported by politicians Pam Duncan Glancy, Labour MSP for the Glasgow Region. 

A spokesperson from SSE Energy Solutions said: “We are fully aware of the impact of rising prices, so we would encourage anyone who is struggling with their energy bills to contact us immediately to discuss the options we can provide to help.”

In May this year, the company had announced an operating profit of £1.5bn, a 15% year-on-year increase, the BBC reported.