Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for making an effort to be here. The ESB is increasing the standing charge for customers who use less than two units of electricity per day. According to the ESB's own figures, this will amount to €9.45 in a two-month bill or €56 over an entire year's billing period. It mainly concerns vacant dwellings, including holiday homes. One unit of electricity amounts to using an electric shower for ten minutes, operating a washing machine for 90 minutes, or watching a 28-inch television for nine hours. Most of us use 14 units of electricity per day and will thankfully be exempt from the standing charge.

To be fair, the Minister has said that people in receipt of a free electricity allowance will be exempt, as will those on an ESB household budget plan or with pay-as-you-go meters. It is also important to exempt elderly people who may have vacated their dwellings to live in nursing homes, may be ill in hospital or may be living with a son or daughter.

I am amused by the ESB stating the standing charge is for administrative costs because the company has changed its meter-reading process, certainly in Cork city. The ESB is increasingly moving away from meter reading, so I would like to hear an explanation for that. The ESB should clearly set out which customers will be affected by this increase. I hope the Minister will agree that we must protect low-income households from this increase, and the elderly in particular.

The Minister's role is crucial in this matter. The ESB must answer to its shareholders and explain this decision fully. If we look closely at those who should be offered exemptions from this increase, I think we will find that the net will get bigger.

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