Athlone Sinn Féin councillor Paul Hogan has called on the Energy Regulator to call a halt to the 10 per cent hike in electricity and gas prices which Bord Gáis announced this week.
Cllr Hogan said that such an increase will further cripple Westmeath families who are already struggling to cope.
“Bord Gáis says it needs to increase prices because of the global market. At the same time, the company has made huge profits from loyal customers. These same customers are already crippled with job losses, Government cuts, and rising prices, not to mention the hike in the mortgage interest rate.
“This proposed hike in energy prices will push people further into fuel poverty and undoubtedly lead to an increase in the numbers of people in arrears and who are therefore in danger of disconnection.
“The energy suppliers themselves have recognised the clear connection between price increases and failure to pay bills. That obviously impacts on the company’s income and so it makes no sense to impose further increases at a time when many thousands of people are already in difficulties,” said Cllr Hogan.
“I am therefore calling on the regulator to rescind this increase and to reject the company’s application for an increase in gas prices.”
