Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader arrange a debate on the cost of energy in the country and how we might be able to educate the public on how to change from one energy supplier to another? Significant advantage is being taken of some customers. One would have to wonder if deregulation has done anything for the market and whether we would have been much better off if we had stayed with the one supplier, the ESB, as it was known. I do not think deregulation has done anything to bring down the price of electricity. It is very complicated at the moment if a person wants to change from one supplier to another. It might be easy to change but it is very difficult for most people to understand when and how to get the best deal. Some companies are paying perhaps up to 30% more for microgeneration than others. How come they are not all on the same wavelength and not all paying the same?I understand that some of them are not going to pay for any microgeneration until next year, at which point they will do so annually, even though we are in the era of the smart meter when companies know much electricity is being used and how many units will need to be paid for.

I am not sure deregulation has been the best decision for the market, and we need to educate the public on how they can go about getting the best deal and where they can get information on that. It is okay for people who are smart with smartphones and so on, but in the vast majority of cases, people are not getting the best deal and we have an obligation to educate the public in that regard.