Consumers Association slams IBEC over ESB comments
The Consumers Association of Ireland has lashed out at the employers’ body IBEC for suggesting that businesses should be exempt from the ESB’s planned 15% increase in charges.
Michael Kilcoyne, the chairman of the association, said such a move would leave householders to bear the brunt of the increased charges.
IBEC has suggested that businesses should only have to pay increases in line with inflation, but Mr Kilcoyne said this is unacceptable.
"The Irish consumer has, over the last number of years, contributed to the huge profits of many of the IBEC member companies," he said.
"To suggest that consumers should continue to pick up the tab for increases in electricity, thus subsidising industry, is unacceptable.
"They have a cheek and it seems to me that they have no acceptance whatsoever of the pressure that the Irish consumer is under."
