The Hydro-Benefit Replacement Scheme is designed to protect consumers from the high costs of distributing electricity in the north of Scotland. The scheme is funded by charges on suppliers across Great Britain.
A review of the scheme was started in 2008. A Government "minded to" statement was published on 1 July 2009 explaining that the scheme was still delivering its original policy objectives and would therefore continue unchanged until the next review in 2011. The statement also calls for views before 23 September 2009.