Small firms face unjustifiably large electricity bills in inflation crisis, Isme says

Large energy users striking 'markedly better' rates for their gas and electricity in recent months compared with the deals secured by small business customers

Isme said it has for some time pleaded for recognition of the equally large contribution made to the economy by small businesses. Picture: iStock

Irish small businesses, including cafés and small shops, are paying an unjustifiably large share of the national electricity bill compared with large companies and multinationals as the inflation crisis worsens, the head of a leading business group has claimed.        

Isme chief executive Neil McDonnell said the business group has begun collecting data that suggest the traditionally large gap between the size of the utility bills paid by small firms and their big corporate counterparts has widened further, as electricity and gas prices have soared this year.