ESB under fire over move to seek price hikes

THE ESB was severely criticised yesterday for seeking to charge customers between 12 and 13% more when the company made profits of €249 million last year.

The price hikes, if granted in September by Commissioner for Energy Regulation Tom Reeves, would represent the fourth series of increases in as many years.

The Fine Gael spokesman on marine and natural resources, Simon Coveney, said additional increases would be “totally unacceptable”.