Fine to be introduced for electricity customers who don’t allow smart meters to be installed
By Brendan Grehan
FINES ARE to be introduced for electricity customers who will not allow smart electricity meters to be installed in their homes.
Smart meters are due to be installed in at least 80 per cent of homes by 2020, to comply with EU targets. The total cost of the project is estimated at €750 million.
The system will reduce bills for customers who use their appliances at off-peak times. But it will become more expensive to use electricity at the high demand time of between 5pm-7pm when people are returning home from work. The proposals have been drawn up by the Commission on Energy Regulation.
Councillor Gino Kenny has condemned the plans. He said that it is “unacceptable” that the cost of meter installation of €750 millions will be loaded onto ESB consumers in a distribution charge over the next five years.
Cllr Kenny told The Echo: “If the smart metering programme led to a genuine reduction in spending on electricity, many people would volunteer to have one installed. But the CER are making smart meters compulsory and invoking powers to fine people.”
Cllr Kenny says the distribution charge comes on top of the €64 annual public service obligation levy which is used to subsidise private companies.
He added: “Tynagh Energy and Aughinish Alumina, for example, benefit from this PSO levy as well as a host of private firms engaged in wind-farms. People have had enough of water charges and other indirect taxes. We are not likely to accept yet another mandatory charge for electricity.”
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