Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is correct that people can switch and reduce their bill for a short period. The problem, however, is that the rates charges go back up, as anybody who has tried to switch supplier will have learned. There is not a long-term saving. In the past 20 years the percentage of household income spent on energy has increased dramatically. If we consider the profits of suppliers, we can see that Bord Gáis Energy which was once a State-owned company but which was sold to British Gas in 2014 made a profit of €28 million in 2015, while pre-tax profits at SSE Airtricity have also increased. Other companies' profits have risen substantially. Has there been any investigation by the CRU or the Competition Authority? Pay-as-you-go meters are typically used by people and households on the lowest incomes, but they are being charged significantly more for electricity. The Minister of State needs to examine the matter to provide a policy direction and must speak to the CRUabout it. The poorest households pay on time because they must, but they are being charged the most.

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