EU energy chief calls for competition in electricity and gas markets

THE Government’s failure to open up the electricity and gas markets has led to Ireland having the seventh-most expensive energy prices among the 25 EU member states.

EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said yesterday said the Government must act to drive down high energy bills caused by a lack of competition to State companies ESB and Bord Gais.

Mr Piebalgs called for the unbundling of the electricity and gas markets to allow other EU operators enter.