Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has called on the ESB to use the substantial profits reported yesterday, to alleviate the burden on ordinary customers, rather than funding excessive wages to top ESB employees.
Speaking in the Seanad today, the Galway West Senator highlighted that both electricity and gas disconnections were both at very high levels.
It has been reported today that ESB’s Profit before taxation rose to €327.6 million in 2012, up from €78.8 million, excluding an exceptional charge of €161.2 million due to a voluntary severanceprogramme that saw 528 employees leaving the group in the year.
“I wish to highlight the figures published by the Commission for Energy Regulation show that 12,854 households had their electricity supply cut off in the first three quarters of 2012, in addition to the almost 17,800 customers disconnected during 2011. Some 2,479 domestic customers had their gas supply cut off between July and September last year.
“Over the past two years, gas and electricity prices have risen by an average of 30%, with further increases likely later this year. People who are struggling on a daily basis due to lack of work or reductions in pay and increased taxes on the less well off, are being cut off through no fault of their own.
“I raise this because we see today reports of the super-profits being made by the ESB at this moment in time. The ESB saw revenue rise to €3.26 billion in
2012, up from €2.91 billion the previous year.
“While the increase in the ESB’s profitability is welcome, it should be noted that this is against a background of increased prices in terms of energy so we must assess the real cost of the increase to ordinary citizens. I also note that the Fine Gael Leader in the Seanad, Maurice Cummins, in response said that ‘the energy regulator needs to examine his conscience in allowing increases to ESB costs’, which goes some way to sharing my concerns.
“Disconnections are widespread, and while Electric Ireland claim not to be as bad as other suppliers there are still considerable levels of disconnections,
because people simply cannot afford to pay their bills. At the same time, we see the government allowing the top brass in the ESB to take home enormous six figure salaries.
“The last budget saw reductions in electricity and fuel allowance, and I believe that many families are currently in danger of energy poverty due to the high prices.
“These profits should be used to ensure that prices fall, disconnections are minimised and cuts in allowances are reversed, rather than going towards the large salaries of those in the higher echelons in the ESB.”
Tá iarrtha ag an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh ar an mBord Soláthar Leictreachais an brabach ollmhór atá fógraithe acu inné a úsáid leis an mbrú a bhaint de ghnath chustaiméirí, seachas le cur i dtreo tuarastail ollmhóra d'ardfheidhmeannaigh san BSL.
Ag labhairt do ar an Riar Gnó sa Seanad inniu, luaigh Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar go bhfuil leibhéil arda dícheangail gáis agus leictreachais sa tír seo faoi láthair.
Tuairiscitear gur ardaigh brabach réamh chánach an BSL chuig €327.6 million i 2012, suas ó €78.8 milliún, gan íocaíocht faoi leith de €161.2 million a thógáil san áireamh, a d'eascair as eirí as deonach 528 fostaí a san ngrúpa i mbliana.
“Ba mhaith liom aird a tharraingt ar fhigiúir a d'fhoilsigh an Coimisiún um Rialú Fuinneamh, a léiríonn gur gearradh soláthar leictreachais do 12,854 teaghlach sa chéad trí ráithe de 2012, sa bhreis ar an 17,800 custaiméir ar gearradh seirbhís chucu i 2011. Gearradh seirbhís gáís ar 2,479 custaiméir baile idir mí Iúil agus Meán Fómhair anuraidh chomh maith.
“Le dhá bhliain anuas, d'ardaigh táillí gáís agus leictreachais 30% ar an meán, le breis ardiathe dhá thuar roimh deireadh na bliana. Tá gnáth dhaoine ag strachailt ar bhonn laethúil de bharr cailleadh poist, laghdaithe tuarastail, cánacha breise dóibh siúd nach bhfuil in acmhainn iad a íoc agus tá siad dhá dícheangail gan aon locht orthu féin.
“Tá mé ag ardú na ceiste inniu mar go bhfeiceann muid go bhfuil brabach ollmhór dhá thuilleadh ag an BSL faoi láthair. D'ardaigh ioncam s'acu chuig €3.26 billiún in 2012, suas ó €2.91billiún an bhliain roimhe.
“Cé go bhfailtítear roimh brabúlacht an BSL go ginearálta, caithfear féachaint ar na himpleachtaí i gcomthéacs táíllí ardaithe do ghnáth shaoránaithe agus an fíor chostas do na daoine seo. Tá sé suntasach chomh maith go dhúirt ceannaire Fhine Gael sa Seanad, Maurice Cummins, mar fhreagra ar mo cheist 'go gcaithfídh an Rialaitheoir Fuinneamh a choinsias féin a scrúdú maidir leis na hardaithe táillí a cheadaigh sé', ráiteas a théann cuid den bhealach maidir leis an imní atá léirithe agam féin.
“Tá praghasanna gáis imithe suas níos mó ná 30% agus leictreachais níos mó ná 20% le bliain anuas, rud a fhágann go bhféadfadh billi custaiméirí a bheith suas le €427 níos mó na mar a bhíodar i 2011. Tá sé ráite sna meáin go bhfuil táillí leictreachais na tire seo thart ar 40% ós cionn an meán Eorpach chomh maith.
“Tá dícheangail ag tarlú go forleathan agus cé go bhfuiltear ag maíomh nach bhfuil Leictreachais Éireann chomh géar le soláthróirí eile sa mhargadh tá an leibhéal fós an-ard ag am nach bhfuil d'acmhainn ag cuid mhaith teaghlaigh na billi a íoc. Ag an am céanna feiceann muid an Rialtas ag ceadú tuarastail ollmhóra sé fhigiuir d'ardfheidhmeannaigh sa BSL.
“Chonaic muid ciorruithe sa bhuiséad deiridh ar na liúntais leictreachais & breosla agus creidim go bhfuil cuid mhaith teaghlaigh i mbaol bochtaineacht breosla mar gheall ar tháíllí arda.
“Ba chóir an brabach seo a úsáíi le deimhniú go n-íslítear táillí, go laghdaítear líon na ndícheangail agus go n-iompaítear ar ais na ciorruithe liúntais, seachais a bheith dhá chuir i dtreo tuarastail de bhoiceanna móra san BSL.”
Speaking in the Seanad today, the Galway West Senator highlighted that both electricity and gas disconnections were both at very high levels.
It has been reported today that ESB’s Profit before taxation rose to €327.6 million in 2012, up from €78.8 million, excluding an exceptional charge of €161.2 million due to a voluntary severanceprogramme that saw 528 employees leaving the group in the year.
“I wish to highlight the figures published by the Commission for Energy Regulation show that 12,854 households had their electricity supply cut off in the first three quarters of 2012, in addition to the almost 17,800 customers disconnected during 2011. Some 2,479 domestic customers had their gas supply cut off between July and September last year.
“Over the past two years, gas and electricity prices have risen by an average of 30%, with further increases likely later this year. People who are struggling on a daily basis due to lack of work or reductions in pay and increased taxes on the less well off, are being cut off through no fault of their own.
“I raise this because we see today reports of the super-profits being made by the ESB at this moment in time. The ESB saw revenue rise to €3.26 billion in
2012, up from €2.91 billion the previous year.
“While the increase in the ESB’s profitability is welcome, it should be noted that this is against a background of increased prices in terms of energy so we must assess the real cost of the increase to ordinary citizens. I also note that the Fine Gael Leader in the Seanad, Maurice Cummins, in response said that ‘the energy regulator needs to examine his conscience in allowing increases to ESB costs’, which goes some way to sharing my concerns.
“Disconnections are widespread, and while Electric Ireland claim not to be as bad as other suppliers there are still considerable levels of disconnections,
because people simply cannot afford to pay their bills. At the same time, we see the government allowing the top brass in the ESB to take home enormous six figure salaries.
“The last budget saw reductions in electricity and fuel allowance, and I believe that many families are currently in danger of energy poverty due to the high prices.
“These profits should be used to ensure that prices fall, disconnections are minimised and cuts in allowances are reversed, rather than going towards the large salaries of those in the higher echelons in the ESB.”
Tá iarrtha ag an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh ar an mBord Soláthar Leictreachais an brabach ollmhór atá fógraithe acu inné a úsáid leis an mbrú a bhaint de ghnath chustaiméirí, seachas le cur i dtreo tuarastail ollmhóra d'ardfheidhmeannaigh san BSL.
Ag labhairt do ar an Riar Gnó sa Seanad inniu, luaigh Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar go bhfuil leibhéil arda dícheangail gáis agus leictreachais sa tír seo faoi láthair.
Tuairiscitear gur ardaigh brabach réamh chánach an BSL chuig €327.6 million i 2012, suas ó €78.8 milliún, gan íocaíocht faoi leith de €161.2 million a thógáil san áireamh, a d'eascair as eirí as deonach 528 fostaí a san ngrúpa i mbliana.
“Ba mhaith liom aird a tharraingt ar fhigiúir a d'fhoilsigh an Coimisiún um Rialú Fuinneamh, a léiríonn gur gearradh soláthar leictreachais do 12,854 teaghlach sa chéad trí ráithe de 2012, sa bhreis ar an 17,800 custaiméir ar gearradh seirbhís chucu i 2011. Gearradh seirbhís gáís ar 2,479 custaiméir baile idir mí Iúil agus Meán Fómhair anuraidh chomh maith.
“Le dhá bhliain anuas, d'ardaigh táillí gáís agus leictreachais 30% ar an meán, le breis ardiathe dhá thuar roimh deireadh na bliana. Tá gnáth dhaoine ag strachailt ar bhonn laethúil de bharr cailleadh poist, laghdaithe tuarastail, cánacha breise dóibh siúd nach bhfuil in acmhainn iad a íoc agus tá siad dhá dícheangail gan aon locht orthu féin.
“Tá mé ag ardú na ceiste inniu mar go bhfeiceann muid go bhfuil brabach ollmhór dhá thuilleadh ag an BSL faoi láthair. D'ardaigh ioncam s'acu chuig €3.26 billiún in 2012, suas ó €2.91billiún an bhliain roimhe.
“Cé go bhfailtítear roimh brabúlacht an BSL go ginearálta, caithfear féachaint ar na himpleachtaí i gcomthéacs táíllí ardaithe do ghnáth shaoránaithe agus an fíor chostas do na daoine seo. Tá sé suntasach chomh maith go dhúirt ceannaire Fhine Gael sa Seanad, Maurice Cummins, mar fhreagra ar mo cheist 'go gcaithfídh an Rialaitheoir Fuinneamh a choinsias féin a scrúdú maidir leis na hardaithe táillí a cheadaigh sé', ráiteas a théann cuid den bhealach maidir leis an imní atá léirithe agam féin.
“Tá praghasanna gáis imithe suas níos mó ná 30% agus leictreachais níos mó ná 20% le bliain anuas, rud a fhágann go bhféadfadh billi custaiméirí a bheith suas le €427 níos mó na mar a bhíodar i 2011. Tá sé ráite sna meáin go bhfuil táillí leictreachais na tire seo thart ar 40% ós cionn an meán Eorpach chomh maith.
“Tá dícheangail ag tarlú go forleathan agus cé go bhfuiltear ag maíomh nach bhfuil Leictreachais Éireann chomh géar le soláthróirí eile sa mhargadh tá an leibhéal fós an-ard ag am nach bhfuil d'acmhainn ag cuid mhaith teaghlaigh na billi a íoc. Ag an am céanna feiceann muid an Rialtas ag ceadú tuarastail ollmhóra sé fhigiuir d'ardfheidhmeannaigh sa BSL.
“Chonaic muid ciorruithe sa bhuiséad deiridh ar na liúntais leictreachais & breosla agus creidim go bhfuil cuid mhaith teaghlaigh i mbaol bochtaineacht breosla mar gheall ar tháíllí arda.
“Ba chóir an brabach seo a úsáíi le deimhniú go n-íslítear táillí, go laghdaítear líon na ndícheangail agus go n-iompaítear ar ais na ciorruithe liúntais, seachais a bheith dhá chuir i dtreo tuarastail de bhoiceanna móra san BSL.”
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