Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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In a previous meeting with the CRU, we talked about standing charges. Since then, Deputy O'Rourke and I have brought in a Bill that would prevent energy companies using standing charges to grow their profits. I am sure everyone would agree that there is something inherently unjust and unacceptable that this is happening. It is particularly galling for people who are trying to save money and use less energy to see that the standing charge has no effect on their usage. I had one constituent write to me and ask my why their daily standing charge had gone up from 0.9563 and it had trebled in his last few bills. This meant that he was paying €56.42 before even one unit of electricity was used. The legislation we are proposing would give the CRU the power to regulate standing charges. It would require energy companies to justify the unjustifiable, as it were, and show how these charges relate to their fixed costs. It would ensure that they are not using standing charges to inflate their profits if people are using less energy. The witnesses have stated that their job is to implement Government policy but I seek their opinion on the standing charges and how suppliers are using them to inflate their profits.