Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 2 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether people can raise objections to the Energy Consents Unit by email, and, if not, what consideration it has given to the accessibility of the Energy Consents Unit online submission portal for people in rural and island communities with slow or unreliable broadband, and what alternative arrangements are available for members of the public who cannot reasonably use the portal.
Since the new representations process was introduced on 16 January 2026, members of the public are expected to send representations about applications for energy consent via the Energy Consents Unit portal. This process replaces emailed representations for all new consultation windows.
The change of process was made following feedback from the public that their representations were not being processed quickly enough, were not displayed clearly, and there was inadequate assurance that representations had been received and would be considered by Scottish Ministers. The portal-based submissions system addresses these concerns and will streamline the administrative handling of virtual representations, while maintaining equivalent accessibility for all members of the public.
The option to send written representations by post remains available for those who cannot or prefer not to use digital platforms, ensuring no group is excluded from participating.