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THE NUMBER OF electricity and gas disconnections increased during the third quarter of 2012 as Irish household continue to struggle with the payment of utility bills.
During the three-month period, there were 4,181 disconnections for non-payment of electricity bills. Of these, 3,496 were in the domestic market. Although the figure shows a significant reduction in disconnections compared to the corresponding period in 2011, it was an 18 per cent increase on the previous quarter.
According to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), Electric Ireland accounts for the majority of disconnections in the domestic and non-domestic markets. However, when adjusted for market share, Airtricity completed the highest disconnection rate per 10,000 customers.
The quarterly report notes that disconnection from a customer’s energy supply “should always be the last resort”. Suppliers are also required to offer a payment plan and pre-payment solution to households.
Gas disconnections
Between 1 July and 30 September, there were 2,479 disconnections completed in the gas market, a leap of 36 per cent on last year.
The vast majority of the switch-offs were seen in domestic addresses.
Bord Gáis Energy completed the majority of disconnections in residential and non-domestic markets. However, when adjusted for market share, Flogas had the highest rate.
Pay as you go
The CER says it has been working with suppliers to facilitate the rollout of electricity and gas pay-as-you-go meters for customers experiencing financial hardship.
There were 4,384 electricity meters installed in the three months, a 22 per cent increase on the previous quarter.
Since 2011, more than 11,000 meters have been put in Irish homes. There are also about 19,500 token-meters in operation.
There was a decrease in the number of gas meters installed in the year with 3,431 households obtaining one. Of these, 93 per cent were installed for financial hardship reasons.
The total number of gas pay-as-you-go meters installed since December 2008 is 63,933.
Switching
Fewer households are switching electricity or gas supplier than they were in 2011, according to the quarterly report.
Bord Gáis, however, continues to experience a net loss in terms of the number of customers leaving. Electric Ireland has seen a net gain of 7,395 customers as it wins back households.
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Cut the heating off up in the Dail for a couple of weeks and let theme see up there what it feels like to experience the cold
Absolutely! We are being governed by morons. If they have no understanding of humanity, they have no right to arbitrate and legislate on humanity’s behalf.
I mean, look at James Reilly. We have a health minister that clearly has no conception of health whatsoever- he looks like he lives on sausages.
If it wasn’t so tragic and inhuman, it might be funny.
Anne…its much more likely he lives on foie gras & expensive wines!
I just switched back to Bord gais as the rates are now the same.
With prices rising and incomes dropping, more & more people will be disconnecting.
I’m actually thinking of having the gas fire taken out & a real one put in to have another option.
If you can afford it get a back boiler put in aswell , so you had heat the rads and water when you light the fire
I can’t believe how expensive electricity has become. And why are we still importing so much? Why haven’t the govt implemented a policy geared towards self sufficiency in terms of energy and for that matter food. Importing salads is reptilian.
Back boilers are the business- I have one on the stove and its just brilliant.
: )
Take out the gas fire and fit a solid fuel stove , great investment.
Anne
The only way we could logically become self sufficient in energy terms would be to construct a small nuclear power station. Any other ideas are simply neither feasible or cost effective and nuclear energy is now recognized as the cleanest form of energy available.
As to your other ideas…..well we cannot grow salads in the winter because it’s too cold and to have them under glass would put the price at a level you wouldn’t pay!
That’s really logical and sensible Peter.
Yeah, sure good argument- we’re better off just sitting back and doing f*ck all.
I don’t really understand though why the need for salad in the middle of winter? Locally produced food keeps money in the local economy and keeps local people employed. But then, you’ll probably have a very logical argument against that too so yeah, let’s carry on as normal. Import beans from Kenya, destroy the planet.
Who cares anyway?
Is it a big job to get back boiler in? I have open fire but bills for heating water are crazy
Energy companies profits are at record highs and the prices keep on rising. But its cool because the majority of the people that die are the poor, old and sick and they’re a awful drain on the coffers of society so its a win, win situation…well for the sick bastards running the show.
Turf.
Holland, Europe’s largest exporter of tomatoes, has a cooler climate than Ireland but makes growing salad stuff and tomatoes pay. It’s very feasible indeed!
Does Edna Kenny have any clue what’s going on in this country? DO NOT VOTE FF or FG in next election. Make a stand together people.
Enda has surrounded himself with highly paid advisors.
He lives in a bubble of good news.
Classic mistake seen over and over again with majority politicians.
Nasty time of year to loose the heating.
And now let’s Tax these cold dark homes. Way to go Enda, finger on the pulse alright.
I have rented for years and always had gas with either Bord Gais or electric Ireland … Bills were always around them€150 mark (128 units) for the two months. Never a problem up until recently where I moved into an estate where CALOR were contracted to the estate. Two months later I get a bill in the door for €660 for 188 units of gas. Robbing b•••ards. So I rang them and they told me it was “special gas” unlike the natural gas.. Does this gas make my house warmer I asked… NO! So Calor charge €2.90 per unit and electric Ireland charge 50 cent… How the hell are they getting away with this? I can’t move from calor as some wizard contracted them to the estate so now I live with my duvet in the sitting room.
Changes to mgt company operation mean there can be no supplier contract longer than 3 yrs, check to see if the estate is even plumbed to take natural gas. Piped grid gas will always be cheaper. Calor is for isolated users
You can’t expect someone else to foot your bill.
@ Andy.. A colleague of mine has a friend with 2 kids, husband lost his job had to go abroad, his wages hadn’t come through yet so he’d sent nothing home.. she met her outside a shop just before Xmas to find her crying because all she had was €2 in her pocket, no money for kids dinner & had nothing for that godforsaken electric meter.. She asked my colleague for a loan which she gave and promised to pay her back, which she did..my colleague bought her afew bags of groceries & gave her money for the meter.. More & more of us are falling on hard times … MORAL OF THE STORY: IM GLAD YOU AREN’T MY NEIGHBOUR OR FRIEND…
Andy,
Tell me the purpose of society again?
You’re right Joan. Good friends and neighbours and kindness can’t be bought for any amount of money.
And to all those who think its funny to mock people who are cold or hungry or suffering- shame on you.
Your shallow bitterness and lack of heart is what we see when you think you’re being smart.
@ Mick – Society, as you mean it, is a fanciful inventive of socialism. It is a support system based on the idea we are in some way responsible for each-other. Well, we are not.
I do not owe you anything and vica-verca. If you go cold, it’s no skin off my nose. Obviously I would help, but there is no morale or social obligation on me to do so.
@ Joan – your colleague risked not being re-payed, something most of us can’t afford to do.
@Andy.. Either you’re a troll or Maggie Thatcher’s love child
Andy,
It’s called solidarity and, regardless of what your fellow entitled FG-types preach, it is not your enemy. Fair play to people for sticking together and we should be thankful wider society doesn’t feel like you. When we fall on hard times, it is great that there is a net there to help us get back in our feet and prevent the slide into poverty. It is not going to change, as people will not allow that to happen, so why don’t you pack up your Prada bags and f*ck off? Entitled self serving Trolls like you is what’s wrong with this country. People consumed by greed and floating kn waves of self importance created this mess. We need more people like Joan, who take the time to care. Our society would be a better place without you, which must annoy you, given you thatcherite outlook. You’re outlook sickens us all.
Oh do shut up Andy! Your here every day throlling and spouting absolute b@ll!!!!
Andy is right. Nothing in this life is free. When will Irish people realise this?? The great national slogan “can’t someone else pay” is really making us look like the simpletons of Europe.
@ Andy.. If it was the last penny I had in my pocket I’d NEVER see anyone in dire straits if I could help it.. Least of all a mother & her kids… I’m not well off, my partner is unemployed but we don’t make money our god either…
I did a parachute jump once and learned the chute was faulty as I free fell. Suddenly I passed a fella who was projected upwards.
“do you know anything about parachutes?’ I ask.
“no” he says. “do you know anything about back boilers?”
Boom boom.
Folks – Andy is correct. You cant expect anyone else to pay overdue bills for you. Paddy cries the poor mouth way too much these days.
Life is a pilgrimage towards the grave.
I recommend that you tear yourself away from the x-box and read some Novalis. Died aged 29 in 1801. Fantastic stuff. Goethe also wrote some great things- “tales for transformation” is a good place to start.
If you became just a little more eloquent and flexible in your opinions you might even get some followers for you tweets! Good luck!
We all start somewhere.
Or if you like some fun with your philosophy try Terry Pratchett.
And you and andy are the same person. Trolls!
I despair at the Irish education system. Why can’t anybody use proper grammar? Your/you’re , my god it isn’t difficult.
Why does help always come too late . Some people will have to pay the Bill then a re- connection fee before they can go on the pay as you use scheme
Catherine, if fall into arrears with Airtricity and their threatening to cut you off, you can opt for prepaid metre for free and pay off arrears as you go. I did it and cost to run my 2 bed house has dropped from €130 every 2 months to €95. Best thing I ever did. :)
Im sure lots of people could cut out luxuries they could pay core bills.
have your say