Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Cost.
- Domestic electricity price increases 11 speeches
The Minister stated that domestic electricity rose from 0.95p per unit in 1973 to 5.001p in 1980, attributing the increase chiefly to fuel costs. Griffin highlighted the burden on tenants in electrically heated homes and asked what would be done about rising prices.
Brendan Griffin, Thomas J. V. Meaney, Padraig Faulkner
- ESB accounting system reform 5 speeches
O’Toole asked what changes had been made to the ESB’s accounting system to reduce electricity costs. The Minister referred to an earlier statement and noted that prices had risen by 189 per cent under the Coalition; remaining questions were deferred.
Patrick O'Toole, Thomas J. V. Meaney, Padraig Faulkner
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the cost of a unit of electricity in mid-June 1973 and on 24 November 1980.
Comment on this
It is presumed that the Deputy is referring to a domestic unit of electricity. In mid-June 1973 a domestic unit of electricity cost 0.95p and on 24 November 1980 the unit cost 5.001p.
Comment on this
The question submitted by me has been altered. The purpose of submitting the question was to elicit from the Minister the increase in the cost of a unit of domestic electricity. When the tenants of Carronreddy Estate in Tipperary town were appointed to the tenancy of their houses, those houses were electrically heated. They have no solid fuel heating in them.
Comment on this
This is an attempt to bring home to this Minister and other Ministers, for whom I have other questions down relating to this particular estate——
Comment on this
The Minister informed me that in June 1973 the cost of a unit of electricity was .95p and now it is over 5p per unit, an increase of well over 500 per cent.
Comment on this
Will the Deputy please ask a question. That is a long statement. The Deputy has not asked a question yet.
Comment on this
I was giving the Minister the background to the question. What does the Minister intend to do about this ever-spiralling increase in the cost of one unit of domestic electricity?
Comment on this
I do not want to be discourteous to the Deputy but I am answering the question which I got. He said he put down another question but that is a matter for some other Minister. I would like to refer to the reply which I gave.
Comment on this
I would like to state that the increase in the price of a unit of domestic electricity from 1973 to 1977 was 189 per cent and from 1977 to date is 82 per cent. As the Deputy knows the price of fuel has been the greatest single factor in this situation.
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that three years ago his Minister promised, vis-á-vis the manifesto, that the accounting system of the ESB would be amended so as to reduce the cost of electricity? What amendment in this regard has been effected with the purpose of reaching that stated objective?