ESB changes bills ahead of opening market
The move is designed to make it easier for domestic customers to switch suppliers. The State-owned company will have to reduce its share of the 1.6 million household electricity market next February following four years of competition in the industrial and business sector.
To make it easier for domestic users to switch supplier, the ESB is redesigning its bills. Customers who have hire purchase agreements with the ESB will receive a separate bill from next year.
It is not known how many players will try to take on the ESB in the residential market, though it has set a target of reducing its overall market share to around 60%.
The ESB is spending tens of millions on euros on the new billing system and customers will begin to see the new format in the coming weeks.
The move comes as the Government has become the latest high-profile customer to switch to an independent supplier. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources - the ESB’s political master - have decided to move to Energia, the Dublin-based subsidiary of Northern Ireland power company Viridian.
At the moment, the contract only covers the department’s head office in Dublin, but many other Government department and agencies are also expected to put their energy supply contracts out to tender.
Energia have made enormous strides to gain customers in the industrial and business markets in the past few years, signing up key clients such as Musgraves, Marks & Spencer and the Four Seasons Hotel.
Its parent Viridian has already built one power station in Dublin and this week announced plans to build another in advance of full market opening.
Meanwhile, Communications Minister Dermot Ahern yesterday announced that 140 megawatts of green, or renewable, energy would be added to the national grid. Mr Ahern said in addition to this, 50 MW of electricity, generated by wind farms, would also be added to the grid.
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