The electricity price hike is due to a Public Service Order (PSO) levy, a levy that was suspended in 2007. But, the levy is back and plans to raise €156 million euro to support and subsidise peat and renewable energy generators in the country – which all sounds well and good in the long run, however we are left shouldering the brunt of the Minister’s bill for his “green energy revolution and unwillingness to squeeze ESB” commented Leo Varadkar, the Fine Gael spokesman on energy. The levy will mean that householders will pay an extra €32.76 a year on their bills, while electricity bills of small and medium-sized businesses can expect an added €99.03.
Not only that but the levy will be introduced as a flat rate hike i.e. all electricity users will pay the same rate regardless of consumption... “A granny living on her own using very little electricity will pay the same amount as somebody who leaves their boiler on all day,” added Varadkar.
