Mayo senator seeks review of public service charge on ESB bills

A Mayo Oireachtas member has called for a review of the service charge by ESB on electricity bills.

Senator Paddy Burke said householders have been a huge increase in their ESB bills in recent times - and the public service charge still features on every single bill issued.

The Castlebar-based representative elaborated: "The public service charge was brought in to extend the service to remote and rural areas.

"There are not that many remote or rural areas nowadays because as the population has dramatically increased over the last 50 years, the service has been provided to nearly single corner of the country.

"Anybody who seeks an ESB connection must now pay a hefty price to the ESB yet the public service charge is still being paid.

"I would ask that the public service charge be examined.

"I suggest that it could be used to pay a loan to the householder or householders to install solar panels or do something of that nature on their premises.

"We must ensure that the public service charge is not just added to the bill but that is pays for something or be used to pay a loan to retrofit houses by installing solar panels or some energy-saving mechanism.

"It seems to me that the public service charge is an extra charge that is taken for granted and included in the householder's bill month after month."