Regulator urged to reject Bord Gáis price-hike request

The Consumers' Association has urged the Government and the Energy Regulator to resist An Bord Gáis’s latest request for a massive price hike.

The company is seeking an increase of between 30% and 40% this year after already securing permission to raise prices by 25% last year.

However, Consumers Association spokesman Michael Kilcoyne said today that such an increase would be totally unjustified and the authorities must make sure it is not granted.

"If we're to look at the history of this, every time An Bord Gáis has applied for an increase, it has almost without exception been granted," he said.

"Energy is the lifeblood of our economy and it is becoming so expensive that the future of this economy is in jeopardy.

"I believe that its time the Minister for Energy instructed the regulator not to grant any further increases on the price of gas to the hard-pressed consumer."