asked the Minister for Transport and Power if his attention has been drawn to the fact that applicants for ESB current, who refused to accept supply because it carried a special charge, have on reapplication been informed that the special charges are now doubled; what is the reason for this imposition; and whether steps will be taken to have supply made available to these people on reasonable terms.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Special Charge.
25.
Up to the enactment of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1962 rural electrification subsidy was made available at the rate of 50 per cent. of the capital cost of connection. Since then rural electrification subsidy is made available at the rate of 75 per cent. of the cost of connection subject to a maximum of £75 per dwelling. On this basis it was estimated that of the 112,000 rural dwellings which remained unconnected 77,000 could be connected at normal rates of fixed charge and a further 23,000 with special service charges not exceeding 50 per cent. of the normal fixed charges. The remaining 12,000 dwellings, which were the most isolated ones and which would be entirely uneconomic to connect, would attract special service charges of more than twice the normal fixed rate of charge. The new subsidy scheme aims at securing the maximum number of connections and it is estimated that in due course some 96 per cent. of rural dwellings will be connected. This achievement will compare favourably with that of many better off countries in Europe. It was not anticipated that any of the 12,000 houses which were most uneconomic to connect would in fact seek connection and therefore the Government decided to make available to them the subsidy of £10 per house for bottled gas which was already available on islands where it was impracticable to provide electricity.