Brian Stanley: Blames privatisation for soaring energy bills
Brian Stanley criticised energy privatisation and rising costs, warning that 300,000 households are in arrears and calling for targeted energy supports. He argued that carbon tax hikes and private ownership of renewables are disproportionately hitting low-income households and urged ministers to change housing aid rules for older people.
Brian Stanley said the cost of energy is putting huge pressure on households, noting 300,000 households are now in arrears with electricity bills. He contrasted the electricity sector 25 years ago — 96% publicly owned — with today’s 25% public and 75% private ownership, saying that shift has contributed to one of the highest electricity prices in Europe, and that most renewables are privately owned except the Bordenowanna ones.
He criticised increases in carbon taxes, saying they are being raised not once but twice a year and are driving up fuel prices and the cost of living. Stanley argued the use of carbon tax has benefited those who can afford new electric cars and major home retrofits, while low-income and rural households are not receiving equivalent benefits.
Stanley said energy credits were recommended by officials and are needed because of a sharp rise in prices, but he insisted payments must be targeted. He warned against repeating last year’s approach of giving credits to wealthy recipients, urging support be focused on low- and middle-income households facing a long cold winter.
He highlighted a rule that prevents housing aid for older persons grants from being used to replace gas boilers because gas is classed as a fossil fuel. He gave the example of "Sheila", a 67-year-old cancer patient on a non-contributory pension whose 20-year-old gas boiler failed; she could not get a €3,000 council grant, was told it was the council’s responsibility, and faced a five-month wait for SAI.
Stanley called on the Minister to take these points to senior ministers and to change the housing aid rule so older, low-income households can replace failed gas boilers and receive targeted relief.
Energy bills and privatisation
Brian Stanley said the cost of energy is putting huge pressure on households, noting 300,000 households are now in arrears with electricity bills. He contrasted the electricity sector 25 years ago — 96% publicly owned — with today’s 25% public and 75% private ownership, saying that shift has contributed to one of the highest electricity prices in Europe, and that most renewables are privately owned except the Bordenowanna ones.
Carbon tax and who benefits
He criticised increases in carbon taxes, saying they are being raised not once but twice a year and are driving up fuel prices and the cost of living. Stanley argued the use of carbon tax has benefited those who can afford new electric cars and major home retrofits, while low-income and rural households are not receiving equivalent benefits.
Energy credits and targeting
Stanley said energy credits were recommended by officials and are needed because of a sharp rise in prices, but he insisted payments must be targeted. He warned against repeating last year’s approach of giving credits to wealthy recipients, urging support be focused on low- and middle-income households facing a long cold winter.
Housing aid rule and case example
He highlighted a rule that prevents housing aid for older persons grants from being used to replace gas boilers because gas is classed as a fossil fuel. He gave the example of "Sheila", a 67-year-old cancer patient on a non-contributory pension whose 20-year-old gas boiler failed; she could not get a €3,000 council grant, was told it was the council’s responsibility, and faced a five-month wait for SAI.
Appeal to ministers
Stanley called on the Minister to take these points to senior ministers and to change the housing aid rule so older, low-income households can replace failed gas boilers and receive targeted relief.
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Transcript
Minister, the cost of energy is putting huge pressure on households and the fact that 300,000 households are now in arrears with electricity bills shows that. Government TDs, and I listen to Deputy Barry Ward complaining about the energy companies putting off the wholesale price, of course they are doing it, and you wonder why, why electricity is getting so dear? Well, 25 years ago it was 96% publicly owned. We had one of the cheapest electricity supply in the European Union. Now it is 25% publicly owned, 75% private, and that is all the renewables, they are all owned by private companies, except the Bordenowanna ones, which I have no problem with, and we have the third to fourth most expensive in Europe. So that is the first thing that Government TDs need to take on board, instead of coming in here and complaining about private companies. Sure, of course they are going to do what they are going to do, there is a hope to make profit, and they are going to try and get as much as they can out of it. But I want to say to you Ministers, well, carbon taxes, you are increasing them not once a year, but twice a year, and these hikes are having a huge impact on householders, small businesses and motorists, rather than the cost of living, putting up fuel prices, and of course when you put fuel prices, everything else goes up. The use of carbon tax is benefiting, it has turned out to benefit those who can afford to buy the new electric car, get the grant, or those who can do the major retrofit in their home. But those people who are on low incomes who can't do that, who are often rural dwellers, but people living in low income houses, they are not getting the benefits from the carbon taxes being collected, and I want you to take that on board. We need energy credits, it was recommended by your officials, there has been a sharp increase in prices, but it should only be done in a targeted way. Don't give energy credits to millionaires like you did last year. That was okay, you have done it before the election, I know why you have done it, you know why you have done it yourselves, but don't do it this year. You know, do it in a targeted way to low and middle income households who are facing another long cold winter. And one thing I want you to address Minister, that housing aid for older persons grants can't be given to people to replace a gas boiler, because somebody, the officials, or maybe it's just one of you, the Ministers, who decided this. I have a case, I'm going to call her Sheila, 67 years old, has a cancer patient, she's living alone on a non-contributory pension, she's a 20 year old house, her gas boiler stops working, she can't get a grant from the council, 3,000 euros, to replace it, she can't get off to the welfare officer, because he says it's the job of the council, and can't get off SAI, because of a five-month wait. So, the rule from your department says that it can't be replaced with gas, because it's fossil fuel. That needs to change, and I would ask you to bring that back to the senior ministers and change that. Thank you.