ESB pays out €50,000 over estimated bill complaints

THE ESB’s practice of charging on the basis of estimated bills was criticised yesterday by the company’s customer complaints arbitration service, ELCOM.

In his annual report published today, the current arbitrator, Denis Henderson, said metering complaints rose dramatically last year and would continue to rise “unless corrective action is taken” by the ESB.

Mr Henderson said ELCOM received more than 2,000 complaints in 2003. This was a 5% increase on 2002. The ESB paid out almost €50,000 in ex gratia payments to customers last year.