News

Fears that the government grant won't cover the cost of a single bill

Fears that the government grant won't cover the cost of a single bill

It's estimated the average electricity bill is 16-hundred euro a year.

Householders are due to get a 200 euro grant from Monday towards their electricity costs, as part of a government package in response to the rising cost of living.

However, it's feared the credit won't cover the cost of a single bill.

The Irish Independent reports a group of Fine Gael backbench TDs have submitted a motion to their party asking for a vote to delay May's planned carbon tax increase.

Advertisement

Personal Finance Editor with The Irish Independent, Charlie Weston, says electricity customers are seeing their average annual bills increase by 25 percent.

He added: "You've the likes of gas coming up 39% from Bord Gáis, you've Electric Ireland, (1.1 million customers) putting up its electricity 23% and then standing charges from both of those as well, which is very difficult to explain"

"With the flurry of increases we had last year and the ones this year, you're talking about the average electricity bill now is probably going to be about €1600 after these increases"

BRITAIN

Advertisement

Demos and marches are taking place across Britain - demanding more help in the face of surging living costs.

Yesterday saw the energy price cap changed there - costing the average household an extra 700 pounds a year in bills.

A Birmingham woman who runs a food bank which saw record demand yesterday says she's protesting because she fears donations will dry up

Speaking at the protest she says "If the people that donate can't afford to give us food then there won't be any food to feed anybody"

Advertisement