STATEMENT BY COUNCILLOR Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Labour Councillor for Clontarf
Dáil Candidate, Dublin North Central
Friday, 06 December 2010
ZERO UTILITY DISCONNECTION POLICY SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED
Labour Councillor Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has welcomed the news that reconnection charges for electricity and gas are to be halved but has stressed that it does not go far enough.
“The issue of utility disconnections is an urgent matter affecting thousands of households across the country and the reconnection fee places an unfair burden on those already struggling with their bills.
"Recent figures show that gas customers who have fallen into arrears are entering payments plans every five minutes, with 20 gas disconnections a day and approximately 90,000 customers experiencing debt difficulties. Electricity disconnections have increased to an alarming level of approx 2,500 every month.
"While the CER (Commission for Energy Regulation) proposal to reduce disconnection and reconnection fees is welcome, it does not go far enough. For anyone who cannot afford to pay their utility bills and risks disconnection these fees simply add a further burden on them.
“I urge the Regulator to implement a zero disconnection policy through the use of pre-payment meters and to develop an acceptable policy in relation to disconnection fees.
"The Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan must also publish the promised Fuel Poverty Strategy - which is now a year overdue."
ENDS.
