asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state the amount held by the Electricity Supply Board by way of consumers' deposits of all kinds and for all purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Consumers' Deposits.
The Electricity Supply Board holds consumers' indemnity deposits totalling £5,182 as guarantee deposits against accruing accounts. In addition it holds special deposits totalling £9,908 in respect of capital expenditure incurred by the board in affording supplies to consumers.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that connection for service and installation was given by the Electricity Supply Board in many cases to consumers only after substantial deposits were made available by the consumers, together with an obligation under contract to consume a minimum quantity; and whether, in view of the inability of the board now to supply these minimum quantities, he will recommend, in the general public interest, the return of the deposits to the depositors.
Where an extension would not be fully economic the Electricity Supply Board requires the potential consumer to bear a portion of the capital cost of the connection and to undertake to pay a minimum sum as revenue in respect of the supply given. I am not prepared to ask the board to modify its policy in this regard.