Aontú leader says latest record figure shows electricity and gas costs are far too high for ordinary working families who cannot keep up.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says government must act in response to the spiralling numbers in energy arrears and stop piling pressure on people.
Said Tóibín: “Ireland is not only the most expensive country in Europe for household, it’s the second most expensive in the world. We pay 40% more than the EU average to keep the lights on. Is it any wonder people can’t cope? The Government refuses to help, when it could do so by reducing the supernormal profit on ESB to zero, and save every household €300 a year.
“At the same time, the semi-state ESB – whose retail division is Electric Ireland – made €750million in profit last year and approved a bumper pay rise for its chief executive, putting him on close to half a million euro salary.
“There is more pain coming for people as the energy price hikes that began in July will soon kick in. And with fuel prices rising and the government bringing in excise hikes, life is getting unaffordable for more and more people.
“The hardship means they can’t afford to pay the energy bills and fall into stressful arrears.
“These figures are shocking as it means it is a problem across the board and into the general population.
“Government could halt the excise hikes and reduce profits at ESB, or it could give some supports.”
He was speaking as data by the CRU showed those with overdue payments had reached a new record high, for the second month in a row.
In April, there were 32,298 in electricity arrears, which was a record. But the May figure broke that, with 328,273 behind on electricity bills. Overall there were well over half a million households in some form of energy arrears.
