Allowing Bord Gáis to hike its gas and electricity costs by 1.47 per cent from next month will do nothing but heap more pressure on hard pressed families in Galway.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil Galway City East candidate Alan Cheevers on the second such Bord Gáis increase in six months, which, he estimates, will affect more than 373,000 Galwegians.
He said this raises serious questions as to why the Energy Regulator approved the price hike when recent figures show more than 5,500 customers were disconnected from their supplier in the first half of last year.
“Many household incomes across the city and county have dropped, while at the same time, people are being hit with higher taxes and charges,” Mr Cheevers said. “The Energy Minister continues to sit back and do nothing. Since he took office in 2011, gas and electricity costs have risen by almost €300 a year for the average family in Galway.”
Mr Cheevers also accused Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte of “showing little or no interest in the issue”.
