The Government need to curtail electricity providers who charge current high prices for past utilities, according to a local TD.
Speaking in the Dail today, Independent Deputy Denis Naughten highlighted a case where an elderly woman from the Shannonside region is being pressed to pay an electricity bill in the thousands of euro.
Addressing Minister Eamon Ryan, the Roscommon Galway TD stated that his constituent's electricity bill has climbed from €123 to €3,385.
The major increase is due to a long period of the pensioner's bill being estimated.
Deputy Naughten believes the new charges following the reading of the metre should not be charged at current inflated prices.
The former Communications minister says Government should introduce back billing rules similar to the Uk, where companies cannot bill for energy used over a year ago:
"Her bill has been estimated for the past 24 months. To add to her shock she is being charged all of these arrears at the current electricity rate compounding the financial hardship that she is now facing while the electricity supplier gains excessive profits due to this inflated unit rate."
