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Some 15 PER CENT of adults will have to use their savings to cover increases in energy bills, while a further two per cent say they will turn to moneylenders to make ends meet, according to a new survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions.
A quarter of people said they will simply not be able to cope with the increases.
One thousand adults around the country took part in the survey.
More than six out of ten of the survey’s respondents said they feel their disposable income has reduced since this time last year.
Eight per cent said they are unable to cover their essential household bills, while the number of people who say they have no money left over after paying their essential bills has increased from 7 per cent in June to 12 per cent last month.
A quarter of those surveyed said they get by on €70 a month after paying their essential bills. Almost half of those involved in the ICLU survey said they find it difficult to save in the current economic climate, but the number of people likely to save money has increased slightly since June to 36 per cent in September.
Meanwhile, nine out of ten people polled said they are worried about Budget 2012 and further tax increases and social welfare cuts. Almost half (47 per cent) said they have been significantly affected by the ECB rate increase in July.
ICLU CEO Kieron Brennan said that the Disposal Income Tracker survey shows “just how hard the ordinary people of Ireland are being hit by increasing household expenses”. Brennan said that impending increases to energy bills will hit families hard, with households worrying that they will not be able to adequately heat their homes over the winter.
“As we move into the winter and Christmas season, we are advising people to take a moment, sit down and look at what their expenses are likely to be over the coming three months - where are the areas that you will need to concentrate on and where can you reduce spend,” he said.
Although more householders are struggling to pay their energy bills, recent figures released show that the number of disconnections from electricity and gas services has been decreasing this year. ESB Electric Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy advise customers who are having difficulty making their payments to contact them to consider arranging a payment plan and to discuss their options with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).
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Probably not entirely related to this article but what I really do not understand is why do ESB offer households such appalling rates for generating their own power (0.09c per kW) and charge nearly double
The Britsh offer households (0.32p per kW) and only charge 12p per kW.
This would encourage us to become self sufficient!
If you were self sufficient, how will they make massive profits? :)
What I mean by self sufficient is importing less resources by encouraging this system. It is in their interest for people to generate electricity in rural areas to improve power factors and efficiency of electrical distribution.
But I suppose your right, they can continue to make profits by keeping it the way it is and threatening to cut people off.
why do we have an energy regulator who doesn’t regulate? everytime the energy companies come up with a price hike of say 20% , he just lets them go ahead with it, they justify it by saying “oh the world price on oil /gas has gone up by 3% so we have to raise our prices by 20% to stay competative” and he lets them raise the price, when world oil/ gas prices drop it takes months for them to lower their prices if they do so at all. there will be a big increase in fuel poverty this winter due to the extorsionate rates charged by suppliers in this country, and just see how big their proffits are in march /april.
Only 1 in 4? I’m surprised it’s so low. No doubt the next budget will change the ratio.
Does it matter what we think. Does it honestly count. Is our debt, our problems our hunger and stress going to concern any one that matters. It only creates more stress reading it. It won’t change it
Does anyone know who is the cheapest to go with? Airtricity put us on to a higher tariff as we were out of contract!!!! So I have to renew my contract to get a cheaper rate, such crap, makes me want to go with someone else who won’t put me on a higher rate without telling me
Jean we went with Bord Gais. If you are in your house more than 2 years they don’t require a deposit to not pay by Direct Debit. We ring them up and split the bill into how many Fridays until the next bill is issued (normally 8) and then pay that amount every week! They have no hassle with it a long as you ring and tell them and stick to it. For us works out at about 20 quid a week. Way more managable than 160 in one go!!! We left airtricity as their customer service is non existant!!!
Oops i meant 8 weeks
AH the smiley face is supposed to be 20 euro
Maybe just maybe the ministers of this robbing government should go around the country and talk to the people and see first hand how people are surviving or not surviving in some cases instead of flying off to the EU every chance they get and selling our country and people down the river just to keep the likes of Germany and France happy and so Kenny can have his hair ruffled and told “good boy”.
People struggling to pay energy costs, turning to moneylenders cause they have no other options and no way in hell of ever being able to save a bob.
WHY DON`T THE GOVERNMENT TALK TO AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE? BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CARE.
have your say