The owner of Ireland’s biggest power company has been slammed for hiking up prices and telling the resident families to call on St Vincent de Paul if there is non payment of bills.
Homes supplied by Electric Ireland will see their electricity bill increase by 9.3% next month, while the company’s gas prices are set to rise by 7%.
The firm has increased the rates for the second time in four months, but the claim by Electric Ireland executive director Marguerite Sayers that families on the breadline who can’t pay their bills should instead go to St Vincent de Paul has caused outrage.
Workers Party representative David Gardiner said the increase in electricity and gas prices could push many working class families over the edge into poverty this winter.
He said: “This latest increase from Electric Ireland amounts to around an extra €15 a month for most households and this is on the lower scale, with some provider increases amounting to as much as €800 a year.
“The reason given for this increase is the cost of wholesale energy. That frankly is not a good enough reason.
“Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director of Electric Ireland, was recently quoted as saying that workers should seek help from the St Vincent de Paul if they are unable to afford their bill.
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