Fewer people have utilities disconnected
The number of people having their gas and electricity cut off has dropped.
Gas disconnections were down by 16% last year and electricity disconnections were down by 31%.
The Commission for Energy Regulation said the decline can be linked to the installation of Pay as you Go metres.
CER also said there is anectodal evidence that a large proportion of properties disconnected were actually vacant.
It estimates that over one-third of gas disconnections were in vacant properties while 42% of electricity disconnections were in vacant premises.
Commenting on the report, the St Vincent de Paul society said the number of disconnections is still high, and a "troubling number of households must resort to payment plans."
