Energia unhappy at planned PSO increases

Energy firm Energia today hit out at the proposed 50% increase in the PSO (Public Service Obligation) levy for 2005.

Energia claimed this extra cost will affect all electricity customers regardless of their power provider.

“In a climate where competitiveness is crucial, our customers are expressing anger that the PSO levy will increase by over 50% on last year. This will add an additional 2 to 3% to electricity bills, with some large industrial users facing a PSO levy cost in excess of €750,000.”

Public Service Obligation (PSO) levies are a mechanism for collecting industry costs, or costs considered to be in the public interest, from all electricity customers regardless.

Energia has offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast and is part of the Viridian Group. Viridian is listed on the Dublin and London stock exchanges and employs over 2600 people. In 2003/04 the Group had a turnover of €1.248bn.