Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone, in particular Mr. Nolan and Mr. Blaney. I want to keep this discussion at a practical level. I read through the Commission on Energy Regulation's list of duties and functions, one of which is to protect the interests of final customers, including the disadvantaged, the elderly and those living in rural areas. I examined the prices of electricity and gas for recent years. Over a three-year period, the price of electricity increased by nearly 31%. Over a two-year period, the prices of electricity and gas increased by nearly 26% and approximately 31%, respectively.

Last September, Bord Gáis sought an increase of 7.5% and was granted an increase of 8.5%. Some 50% of that increase was due to an increase in network costs. Why did the CER award this level of increase? In the past two years, the ordinary people have seen an almost 30% increase in the cost of gas and electricity. How did the CER reach that figure? One of its duties is to protect the interests of the elderly and ordinary people who pay their gas and electricity bills.