ESB Price Hike

Energy Regulator to discuss electricity price hike and disconnection of customers with Committee on Economic Regulatory Affairs




August 31 2010



Energy regulator Michael Tutty will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Economic Regulatory Affairs tomorrow, Wednesday 1 September to discuss concerns over a planned increase in electricity prices and the record numbers of electricity and gas customers being disconnected due to their inability to pay their bills.



Michael Moynihan, TD, Chair of the Committee on Economic and Regulatory Affairs said: “The planned 5 per cent increase in electricity prices the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy from next October will hit many households and families very hard and at a time when many are already struggling with other utility bills, price increases, falling incomes and unemployment.



It also comes at a time when reports show that the ESB are already cutting off power to 900 houses a month – or 30 households a day – because people cannot afford to pay their bills. In the past three months, Bord Gais has disconnected an average of 230 people a month.



The Committee’s emergency meeting will provide committee members with an opportunity to question the energy regulator on the proposed increases in electricity supply charges which it has authorised for hundreds of thousands of domestic customers from next October through the PSO.



Concerns about the impact of the price rise on households, the record numbers of electricity and gas customers being disconnected due to inability to pay, the disconnection and reconnection fees being levied on these customers and the protocols in place to protect vulnerable people in dealing with the energy suppliers will also be raised with the regulator.”



This meeting will take place in Committee Room 1, Leinster House at 12.30pm tomorrow, Wednesday, 1 September.