Industry-Wide Response Critical to Tackle Energy Poverty Issue – Bord Gais CEO

Bord Gais’s CEO, John Mullins, has called for an industry wide response to the issue of energy affordability in Ireland, with natural gas and electricity retail prices set to rise significantly later in 2008.

Mr Mullins said that energy affordability will become an increasing priority for companies providing services to domestic customers and requires a real and substantial collective approach from the industry to ensure that effective policies are in place to meet the needs of energy users.

He pointed to the three factors that give rise to the energy affordability issue including fuel pricing, low income and poor energy efficiency.

Bord Gais’s CEO said that a program for pre-payment metering needs to be accelerated for relevant groups, that an increase in grants for targeted housing upgrades is urgently required and the industry as a whole needs to put an increased emphasis on energy usage and tariff advice.

Mr Mullins said: “While the government currently provides substantial support for energy affordability through the National Fuel Scheme and the Household Benefits Package the energy industry needs to take a pro-active approach on the issue now in the light of pricing trends. Given that energy prices for retail customers will unfortunately rise substantially, and that fuel poverty exists when energy bills represent 10% of income, it is inevitable that energy affordability will become a more significant national issue.”