Approval of electricity price hikes for Kildare shows ‘a complete disregard for struggling households’

The approval of electricity price hikes for County Kildare residents shows "a complete disregard for struggling households", according to a local representative.

The decision made earlier today (December 16) by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to approve further electricity price increases has been criticised by Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender.

The Newbridge-based rep accused the CRU of "failing to act on blatant price gouging by energy companies" and also claimed that the decision showed "a complete disregard" for households in Kildare and beyond that are "already under severe pressure".

Elaborating on his views, Cllr Pender said: "What people heard this morning from the CRU was insulting; telling families to shop around or avoid using appliances at peak times is not serious policy, it is a cop out.

"Electricity bills have nearly doubled in a few short years; families cannot wash their way out of that.

"No household budget survives on advice like this."

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He continued: "Yes, the [energy] grid needs investment, but it is unacceptable that ordinary households are being forced to shoulder the cost, while energy companies continue to make large profits.

"Almost 300,000 households are in arrears on their electricity bills... that is not abstract, that is families living in cold homes; children doing homework in freezing rooms; parents rationing heat because they have no other choice."

"In October, the Taoiseach accepted that energy companies were engaged in gouging, yet nothing followed.

"No action, no consequences, just higher prices."

'WE ARE AN OUTLIER'

Cllr Pender further said: "Ireland already has some of the highest energy costs in the EU; we are an outlier.

"Instead of fixing that, the State is allowing prices to rise again."

He also expressed his belief that the CRU "should not approve another cent of price increases until it properly investigates gouging by energy companies", and subsequently makes those findings public.

In addition, Cllr Pender called on the government to "act immediately" in order to remedy the situation.

Furthermore, he offered the following suggestion: "A targeted €400 energy credit for households already struggling is essential; this has been raised repeatedly [and] it has been ignored repeatedly.

Cllr Pender concluded by saying: "That is a political choice, and people are paying the price for it."

The CRU has been contacted by the Leinster Leader for comment in relation to Cllr Pender's criticism.

Further information about the CRU can be found on cru.ie.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender. File photograph

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.