Notable Rise In Number Of Electricity, Gas Customers In Arrears

Tuesday, 26 September 2023 12:26

By Caoimhe Harney

Disconnections for non-payment of bills are also up in recent months

There has been a notable increase in the number of domestic electricity customers falling into arrears since the end of the Government's Emergency Electricity Credit in March, according to an updated report from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

The numbers of domestic gas customers falling into arrears has also been rising.

Disconnections for non-payment of bills are also up in recent months, after the ending of a moratorium on disconnections in March.

Domestic energy costs have become a major burden in many households as costs soared last year and remain high.

The CRU figures show the number of households in arrears with electricity and gas bills have been increasing since the beginning of the year.

In June, 11% - or 256,000 electricity customers - were in arrears, up 72,000 since January, while gas customers in arrears rose by 24,000 to 168,000.

After a three-month moratorium on disconnections at the beginning of the year, the number being cut off for non-payment of bills has increased.

Fifteen electricity customers were cut off in April, 132 in May and 145 in June.

Twenty-one gas customers were disconnected in April, 197 in May and 202 in June.

More from National News

Former US Soldier, Michael Kelley, Charged In Connection With Death Of Kerry Man Michael Gaine

The 56-year-old farmer was reported missing last March - human tissue found on his farm nearly two months later was confirmed to be his
Father Punched In Head And Child Pushed To Ground During Newbridge Assault

During the altercation, the child was pushed to the ground.
Education Officials Insist Damning Celbridge Primary School Findings Require "Peer Review"

Audio

Two independent reports completed last year and seen by Kfm News warned the school’s long-standing modular building shows widespread deterioration, including structural issues and fire safety concerns.
€20k–€30k Bill Raises Doubts Around Introducing A Video Archive Of Kildare Council Meetings

Councillor Claire O’Rourke has called for the council to create a webcast library of meetings on its website, arguing it would strengthen transparency and allow people who cannot watch live - including workers and carers - to follow key decisions.
Gardaí Target Nigerian-Based Crime Gang In Series Of Raids, Including Kildare

The gang has previously been described by Interpol as a key player in cyber-enabled financial fraud and various online scams.
Kildare Gets Smallest Cut Of Funding To Upgrade Non-Public Rural Roads And Farm Access Routes

The scheme is designed to pay for repairs and upgrades to non-public rural roads and laneways - typically narrow access routes serving homes and farms that are not normally maintained by local authorities.
Major Landlord’s €31.75m Purchase Of 77 Naas Apartments Draws Political Criticism

The criticism comes as the latest Daft.ie figures show how rents are now one third more expensive than before covid, and are 80 per cent higher than they were 10 years ago.
Medically Vulnerable Council Tenants In Kildare Can Now Access Solar Scheme Amid Wider Expansion

Council officials say the Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers, first launched as a pilot in 2022, has since been expanded to include all households registered under the life-support category of the Priority Services Register.