ESB to recoup money from customers

THE ESB has begun pursuing thousands of customers undercharged as a result of the company’s pre-paid meters being out of sync with its bills.

Sinn Fein’s Seán Crowe described the development as a “new low” with customers being penalised for arrears accumulated through no fault of their own.

The ESB will be pursuing around 12,500 customers who owe e120, on average, money that will be collected over the next three years.

The repayment works out at about a euro a week.

The ESB said it would extend the period further than three years for customers already in difficulty because of other arrears.

Mr Crowe said many of the customers who were undercharged were less well-off and were already struggling to pay for their electricity using the pre-paid card system.

“This is a further blow after last week’s news that ESB prices are to go up again by another 8% in October,” he said.

ESB spokesperson Kevin McDermott explained that the special ‘budget control’ meters were installed to help around 20,000 customers who got into difficulties in the past with arrears.

The special pre-paid tokens were also used to reduce arrears previously accrued.

“It is an alternative to a disconnection, which would be a much harsher approach,” he said.

He said that these customers also received statements in the post every two months that accurately reflected their account.

“What has happened is these meters had not been changed to take account of rises in electricity tariffs that have taken place over the past two years,” he said.

He said the ESB had begun looking at other ‘smart card’ meter mechanisms that would only require having the card updated to take account of any tariff changes.

Asked if the money owed could just be written off, Mr McDermott pointed out that some customers had been paying the correct tariffs after notifying ESB staff.

When the meters were installed customers were warned that they must take account of their bills so there was a record of what they paid as well as historical arrears.

“We accept that there has been a delay in re-calibrating these meters and we are setting out to do that now,” Mr McDermott said.