|
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Economic Regulatory Affairs
has invited the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to
an emergency meeting this week.
The Committee says it wants 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.
"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 Gáis has
disconnected an average of 230 people a month," said Michael
Moynihan, TD, Chair of the Committee on Economic and Regulatory
Affairs.
"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," he said.
"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."
|
