The Scottish Conservatives have today confirmed they will vote against any plans by the SNP to impose “staggering” fines on hard-pressed Scots householders who don’t comply with the nationalists’ future energy regulations.
It was revealed this week that the SNP’s draft Buildings and Heat Networks Bill contains plans that would impose penalties of up to £15,000 on home or building owners who do not comply with new laws, such as replacing ageing gas or oil boilers in their properties.
Shadow energy secretary Douglas Lumsden says Scots who will face further rises in their energy bills at the start of the year will be “terrified” by the SNP’s proposals which will be implemented if they win May’s Holyrood election.
He says that households who are already struggling with rising bills under both the SNP and Labour should not “shoulder all the burden” of trying to ensure the SNP hit their unrealistic Net Zero ambitions by 2045.
Douglas added that the longer the SNP government remain hellbent on sticking to the “madness” of their net zero agenda, the more damaging it is going to be for Scots right across the country.
Scottish Conservative shadow energy secretary Douglas Lumsden MSP said: “Many Scots who will have been blissfully unaware of the SNP’s proposals will be terrified to discover what the SNP are planning to implement if they win May’s Holyrood election.
“It is staggering that the nationalists are even considering imposing fines of £15,000 on homeowners who don’t follow their strict new plans in relation to gas boilers.
“We will never vote for this bonkers plan. It would hammer householders who are being constantly asked by the SNP to shoulder all the burden for meeting their unrealistic 2045 net zero target.
“For many households, replacing a gas boiler simply isn’t practical or will be hugely expensive at a time when energy bills are going to rise yet again in the new year.
“The SNP and Labour are already squeezing household budgets at every turn, but now Nationalist ministers have thought of a new way to attack household budgets even more.
“The longer the SNP remain hellbent on sticking to the madness of their net zero agenda, the more devastating the consequences will be for Scots.”
Notes to editors:
The SNP are proposing to fine households up to £15,000 if they don't comply with their energy regulations. Section7 of the SNP's Draft Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill states that civil penalties of up to £15,000 can be imposed if a home or building owner does not comply with energy performance regulations in relation to heating systems like gas boilers. (Draft Buildings [Heating and Energy Performance] and Heat Networks [Scotland] Bill, 18 November 2025, link).