Gas price to rise by 39% and Electric by 27% in April.

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118792729#Comment_118792729

bingo!

you2008

Bord Gáis customers to pay extra €700 a year due to price hikes - even if they cut their usage to zero

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/bord-gais-customers-to-pay-extra-700-a-year-due-to-price-hikes-even-if-they-cut-their-usage-to-zero-41452156.html

I am going to wash myself at the Irish sea..........

Galwayguy35

Come back to join us in the bog this summer, a bit of exercise pain for a few days will be worth it when you make a big saving on heating your house next winter.

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118792469#Comment_118792469

Says your man/one typing this on a smart device or laptop courtesy of the internet (all powered by "cheap" energy).

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118792688#Comment_118792688

It literally says in the title that that is a "road", and not the motorway that you thought was in Mayo. It says it repeatedly in fact, its the N5 "road" project.

Don't know why they talk about €200m though, according to you those things are all free anyway.

JimmyVik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118792811#Comment_118792811

Now that is disgusting. Cant belive they are getting away with it. That standing charge is just a con at this point.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118792811#Comment_118792811

Stupid article is stupid.

a) If your usage was zero, why would you have an account at all?

b) My reading of that is that the standing charge will increase by the same percentage. There is no way they will have a standing charge of €43 per month.

EB_2013

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793202#Comment_118793202

I have an electric only account through Airtricity and my last monthly bill was for €43. €30 of that was for Standing Charge, PSO Levy and VAT. Its a joke. The real problem is the levies.

JimmyVik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793246#Comment_118793246

Thats how they are going to suck money out of those people who want to generate their own power. The standing charge is being used to safeguard the profits for the future when self generation becomes possible for more people. Not to mention the VAT on it too.

Spanish Eyes

I agree that it is difficult to reduce costs when the string of levies cannot be reduced by being careful with consumption.

Will Gov intervene regarding these non negotiable charges? I doubt it but it would help a lot if they did.

At the very least they should give every account holder a transparent breakdown annually as to where the massive profits of ESB are going and what the other levies are being used for. Show us the evidence of judicious use of all these charges/profits and maybe people would not be so opposed to them. Well at least they would know where they are going, and not being sucked into a black hole somewhere.

I know people can look up the accounts of ESB but many people are not familiar with account speak and annual accounting terminology. I wouldn't for example know where to find what the PSO and carbon levies are being used for in a simple and easily accessible format. I cannot be the only one.

Pussyhands

Someone needs to explain to us how our renewable electricity generation can increase by nearly 150% in 10 years yet our electricity bills are going through the roof?

Captain_Crash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793246#Comment_118793246

Same here, standing charge is regularly three times that of usage!! Plus vat

Ger Roe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793326#Comment_118793326

It's because the economic model of free enterprise electricity generation and distribution can only survive if we all pay more for using less. If we all do what the gov apparently wants us to do .... cut back and go as green as the Chicago river on St Patrick's day... then the industry will not be able to survive .... unless they have ways to make sure that we continue to pay more for using less.

The Gov can't shaft the companies that they encouraged in to the market to produce the lack of competition that exists in this country anytime a resource or service is privatised and regulated with independent reviewers that simply rubber stamp all the price rise requests that they receive.

The energy crisis can not be solved by continually ripping off the consumer with punishing charges, taxes, levies and whatever other excuses they make up - we need competitive options and they have ignored that fact for so long, that we are now rightly screwed.... or soon will be.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118792688#Comment_118792688

LOL!! Have you ever driven from Castlebar to Westport on the existing N5?? Even if they put in a standard 2 way road with hard shoulders, it would be a vast improvement! You need to get out of your ghetto and take a break. Go on your bike to save carbon and cycle to Westport to find out for yourself.

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793475#Comment_118793475

I was making the point that lots of public money is spent on things that lots of us don't benefit from, like insulation for social housing, roads we'll never use, etc. That's how most countries operate.

I've been in Westport many times, nice place but ruined by too many cars.

sully123

Bord oh my gais!

you2008

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793246#Comment_118793246

wow - you are right, never looked it €45 useage Vs €52 was for the rest.........😣

come on - Leinster House!!!

Geuze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793295#Comment_118793295

PSO levy

The PSO (Public Service Obligation) levy is mandated by the Irish Government and approved by the European Commission. It is charged to all electricity customers in Ireland and supports the generation of electricity from sustainable, renewable and indigenous sources.

The levy is calculated and certified annually by the CRU (Commission for Regulation of Utilities) in line with relevant legislation. All energy suppliers are required to collect this levy from customers through bills. For further information please visit www.cru.ie

What are the current PSO levy rates for residential customers?

PSO Levy Rate (reduced effective rate as of 1st October 2021)

The new PSO levy changing October 1st 2021 will be €4.30 excl. VAT per month which equates to €51.60 excl. VAT (12 x €4.30) or €58.57 per year inclusive of VAT.

You will see the PSO Levy on your typical two-monthly bill as €8.60 (€4.30 x 2) + 13.5% VAT.

What are the current PSO levy rates for business customers?

The PSO rate charged to business customers is different. To view current PSO Levy rates applicable to business customers please see PSO Levy for Business.

Geuze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793295#Comment_118793295

PSO levy

https://www.cru.ie/cru-publishes-public-service-obligation-levy-for-2021-2022/

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities has published a decision paper regarding the calculations for the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy for the period 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022.

The PSO levy is a key factor in enabling Ireland to meet its national targets in terms of the generation of electricity from renewables.

Following a review of the PSO cost submissions, the CRU’s final calculation is that a PSO levy of €263.70 million will be required for the 2021/22 PSO year. This represents a decrease of €129.43 million (32.92%) on the 2020/21 levy of €393.13 million.

From a customer impact perspective, the difference in the monthly PSO levy amount between the 2020/21 and the 2021/22 PSO levy period that customers will have to pay will be:

• Domestic Customers (34% reduction): €4.30 per month (previously €6.52 per month)
• Small Commercial Customers (36% reduction): €13.63 per month (previously €21.41 per month)
• Medium/Large Customers (41% reduction): €1.63 kVa (previously €2.78 kVa)

The PSO levy is a subsidy charged to all electricity customers in Ireland and was originally designed by the Irish Government to support its national policy objectives related to renewable energy, indigenous fuels (e.g. peat) and security of supply. The proceeds are used to pay for the relevant costs incurred by supported electricity generators which are not covered by the market.

The CRU’s role is to calculate the PSO levy in accordance with Government policy and the governing legislation and to ensure that the scheme is administered appropriately and efficiently.

Decrease Drivers

PSO levy payments are calculated on the basis of the estimated generation required and the estimated wholesale electricity market prices for the year ahead. These payments are then adjusted, through the R-factor mechanism, to take account of the actual generation and wholesale electricity prices.

The key driver of the decrease of the 2021/22 PSO levy (relative to the 2020/21 PSO year) is the increase in the PSO Benchmark Prices. The PSO levy calculation estimates the expected market price for electricity for the forthcoming year. The higher the expected market prices, the smaller the subsidy that will be needed.

The three Benchmark Prices modelled for the forthcoming (2021/22) PSO year are significantly higher than the estimated Benchmark Price of €53.66/MWh for the current (2020/21) PSO year. This has resulted in downward pressure on the 2021/22 PSO levy of €305.08 million.

For the 2021/2022 PSO Levy, the CRU has introduced amendments to PSO forecasting methodologies in order to reduce the risk of volatility occurring in the PSO levy. As part of this, specific Benchmark Prices will now be applied for wind and solar projects in receipt of PSO support to offset these large changes each year.

The decision that has been published can be found here.

Commenting on the decision, Aoife MacEvilly, CRU Chairperson said: “While the next year will see a decrease in the PSO Levy for customers, its inverse relationship with wholesale fuel costs means that many customers will have felt price increases by suppliers over the last number of months. These increases to a bill can be beaten by customers who renegotiate with their supplier or switch to a new provider where they could save over €300.”

Geuze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793295#Comment_118793295

Carbon tax

In 2010 a carbon tax was introduced in Ireland. The carbon tax applies to kerosene, marked gas oil, liquid petroleum gas, fuel oil, natural gas and solid fuels.

The rate of carbon tax from 1 May 2013 to 1 May 2014 was based on a charge of €10 per tonne of CO2 emitted by the fuel concerned. The rate increased to €20 per tonne with effect from 1 May 2014.

The Finance Act 2020 provided for annual increases in carbon tax of €7.50 per tonne, up to 2030.

Budget 2021 included an increase of €7.50 from €26 per tonne to €33.50 per tonne. The increase applied to auto fuels from October 2020 and to solid fuels from May 2021.

A further increase of €7.50 was announced in Budget 2022, from €33.50 to €41.00 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted. The increase applies from 13 October 2021 for auto fuels and 1 May 2022 for all other fuels.

rob316

I also think we are seen how deregulation of energy is a false down. We are paying for the "competition" that the ESB are creating by wholesaling energy. The wholesale price is pumped up to make up for their smaller end user market share.

Bord Gais should of never been sold off too, especially not for the ridiculous fee of €1bn. I'm firmly of the belief our energy suppliers should be state owned.

Its like Sky at a monopoly of premier league football, the competition authority told broke it up and now you have to pay 3/4 different subs to watch it.

Phil.x

Time to reopen the peat bogs, also the LNG terminal and exploration of oil and gas in Irish waters to be brought back into planning and open any historical coal mines.

cheezums

Is there regulatory oversight into massive price hikes in essential goods and services? How are we to know this exact rise is justified and doesn't have a nice chunk of profiteering thrown in opportunisticly?

Snugbugrug28

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793547#Comment_118793547

This really justifies a purchase of new build plus electric car. One standing levy to cover everything instead of separating it out into gas plus electric levies and then fuel duties

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118794301#Comment_118794301

There is (CRU Ireland) but I'd wager that like say Comreg in the communications sector they have no ability to do anything about it

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118793326#Comment_118793326

Yep 40% of our electricity comes from wind alone. Once the initial investment has been made it must be money for jam. The electrify network and grid was already there so not like it’s been built from scratch. Certain corporations and individuals getting mega rich somewhere. The energy companies seem to be involved in the likes of wind so they’re not going to give up their profitability level ever

road_high

Imagine lumping VAT on top of a PSO levy- sums up the whole rotten money grab

road_high

I think moreover than society being hooked on “cheap” energy - governments (ours very especially) are hooked on easy taxation of fuel and energy - they run their social programmes off the backs of us

Geuze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118795124#Comment_118795124

Many, many countries apply VAT to prices which include various excise taxes. This is totally normal, and has happened for decades.

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118795716#Comment_118795716

Well you can always be guaranteed the Irish state will lead the way in applying all taxes on top of other ones wherever possible. One of the few areas they excel in.