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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Jul 1972

Vol. 262 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Electricity Charges.

23.

andMr. Harte asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is satisfied that the terms being quoted by the ESB for electricity supply to mobile homes provided by local authorities are reasonable; and, if not, if it is proposed to take steps to assist occupants who are unable to meet these charges.

24.

andMr. Harte asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will consider giving a subsidy to the ESB to assist in reducing charges for the occupants of mobile homes provided by local authorities.

With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.

I am informed by the ESB that, in calculating the terms for supply to any customer, the board take into account not only the revenue which can reasonably be expected from that customer but also the length of time for which that revenue can be expected to continue. Terms for supply to permanent loads are based on the assumption that the load will remain connected for the same order of time as the life of the network required to supply it. The minimum network life is in the order of 20 years for overhead lines and is longer in the case of underground cables but in practice, however, loads which can be assumed to have a life of ten years or more are considered by the board to be permanent for the purpose of calculation of terms for supply.

I am aware that in recent years it has become quite common for local authorities to provide mobile houses for elderly persons whose houses have deteriorated. I understand that the basic reason for providing mobile houses rather than permanent structures or even prefabricated houses is that it is foreseen by the local authority that the accommodation will be required for a relatively short period at any location and may be transferred to other locations as the need arises. In such circumstances the ESB cannot consider that the electricity supply is required on a permanent basis and this is reflected in the terms for supply.

I am satisfied that the board's practice in this matter is reasonable and in the interest of electricity consumers generally. The capital which can be made available for the extension of electricity supply is limited. The ESB must, therefore, make every effort to avoid expenditure which does not show a reasonable prospect of giving an adequate financial return. It is for this reason that the board curtail their capital outlay in the case of temporary supply by seeking capital contributions from the applicants.

Finally, I might mention that the cost of supplying electricity is to a very large extent governed by the location of the premises to be supplied in relation to the nearest electricity supply point. It is essential, therefore, where there is a choice of site, that the local authority concerned should consult the ESB regarding terms for electricity supply before the final choice of site is made.

Subsidisation of rural electrification was examined last year following which the Government approved a programme of expenditure of £18 million on rural electrification during the four years ended 31st March, 1975; towards which the State is making available a subsidy of £10 million. This is the maximum that can be made available in present circumstances and compares with a subsidy or £17 million paid towards expenditure of £49 million on rural electrification in the 25 years to 31st March, 1971.

Is the Minister aware that persons normally housed in these mobile homes are usually persons of the pensioner type with a very low income who are unable to meet the ESB charges for supplying current and that very often as a result of the high charges and the very low income, they do not have current to their homes, which are lighted by paraffin or gas and that there is a danger, because of the age of these people, of fire and that there have, in fact, been fatalities because the homes were lighted by gas or paraffin? Having regard to the limited number of mobile homes involved, the Minister should indicate to the ESB as a semi-State body that they have a social duty to see that these people have electricity.

I would suggest— and this is why I referred to it in my reply—that the primary social duty rests on the local authority as the providing authority in this case. My information is that in far too many cases they do not have the close liaison and consultation with the ESB before they locate the site for such mobile homes. If they did so in the most economic site from the point of view of linking up electricity, matters might be evened out in that way.

The most economic site might be socially undesirable from the point of view of the person to be housed. That should be the primary consideration and not the convenience of the ESB.

I am using the occasion to appeal to local authorities to make this a primary consideration, to consult with the ESB on the most economic location from the point of view of providing electric power.

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