Call for energy credits as over 500,000 bills in arrears

The Government has been urged to provide energy credits in the wake of new findings from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities that over 500,000 Irish energy bills are showing arrears.

Speaking in the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said people were exhausted after years of energy price rises and that credits were needed within the next three weeks before prices rise again.

Mr Doherty said the CRU figures painted a deeply concerning picture, with over half a million bills in arrears for the first time ever.

The Donegal TD said the figures show 319,000 families are in arrears on their electricity bills and 183,000 families are in arrears on their gas bills.

Some families might be in arrears on both simultaneously.

“Last week, Electric Ireland raised their prices, and there wasn’t a peep out of you in Government”, he claimed.

“You withdrew energy credits in the last Budget. We have the highest prices in Europe. Companies are to jack up their prices again. And what’s your response, wait and see what we’ll do in the Budget,” he said.

The Donegal TD claimed people who had never been in trouble before were coming to him struggling with bills.

Responding, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said the Coalition had produced the biggest package in a European context to help families with the cost of living.

Mr Burke said the Government had been agile before in helping families and will continue to be so.

He said the Coalition will be guided by a report by the Energy Affordability Taskforce, which is due in autumn.

He urged people struggling to engage with their supplier or the Department of Social Protection.

“We are acting now at a record level – supporting people at the pump,” Mr Burke claimed.

Last month Electric Ireland – which is the biggest residential electricity provider in the country – announced that it would raise energy prices from the start of July, with an 8% hike in electricity and 7.7% rise for gas customers.

Other providers including Yuno energy and PrepayPower also announced price increases last month.

Last week it also emerged Euro zone inflation accelerated further in May on higher energy and services costs.