Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jan 1996

Vol. 460 No. 5

Written Answers. - ESB Increase.

Batt O'Keeffe

Ceist:

92 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he intends to give a 12 per cent increase over two years to the ESB; and his views on whether consumers are being asked to pay for the incentive package being given to ESB workers. [1670/96]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

The Government has approved an overall average price increase for the ESB of 2 per cent in 1996, 1.5 per cent in 1997 and 3 per cent in 1998 broken down per category of customer as follows:

	1996	1997	1998
	%	%	%
Domestic	2.8	2	—
Commercial	1.8	1	—
Industrial	2	1.5	—

Small and medium sized enterprises will have an increase of 0.7 per cent in 1996 and 1997.

The agreement to these price increases is conditional on the acceptance by the unions and the ESB of the CCR and for 1997 and 1998 on the satisfactory implementation of the CCR.

I am satisfied that the price adjustments are fair and balanced. They should ensure the future viability of the ESB and will in particular enable the company to commence the major and necessary upgrading of its electricity network.

The ESB agreed with my Department that the CCR should pay for itself and it did not form any part of the price increase analysis.