33.8% gas hike puts elderly at risk, warn action groups

CONSUMER champions and pensioners’ groups last night criticised Bord Gáis for announcing price rises of €50 per bill from October — a hike of 33.8%.

The hike comes after news of a planned €24 rise in electricity bills from January. Bord Gáis blamed the rising cost of gas internationally for its rise, which will take average household bills to over €1,200 a year.

Yesterday the Commission for Energy Regulation, which regulates bills, announced it planned to allow Bord Gáis to hike bills by the inflation-busting figure.