asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the percentage increase in electricity charges from July 1977 to date; the measures taken to lessen the impact of these increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Electricity Charges.
34.
In the three year period, July 1977 to June 1980, the price of electricity has increased by 46.9 per cent on average.
Price increases were granted only after detailed examination of ESB applications by the National Prices Commission and following consideration of the commission's recommendations by the Government. These increases were the minimum necessary to compensate the ESB for unavoidable increased costs. In this regard I would like to point out that, if price increase proposals by the ESB had been accepted in full, the price of electricity would now be about 6 per cent higher.
I would also like to draw attention to the fact that in the period in question there were two reductions in the price of electricity. In October 1977 the price of electricity was reduced by 2½ per cent on average and in April 1978 a further reduction of 5 per cent in electricity prices was made.
In view of the fact that in the same period there has been a 100 per cent increase in the cost to the ESB of fuel oil, a product on which the board is heavily dependent and which accounts for a significant portion of the ESB's cost input, the 46.9 per cent increase reflects the sustained effort to keep electricity charges to a minimum.