New ESB requirement 'will disadvantage the most vulnerable'

The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) has today criticised ESB Electric Ireland’s requirement that customers use direct debits and e-statements in order to avail of the discounts that were announced yesterday.

IPU general secretary Brian McGann said that this move will further disadvantage older people and the growing number of ESB / Electric Ireland customers that are currently unemployed.

The IPU represents the country’s network of 1,100 local post offices through which many ESB Electric Ireland customers pay their bills.

“From the point of view of fairness and social inclusion, it is entirely wrong that ESB / Electric Ireland’s latest offering of discounted prices penalises those already struggling financially and who are doing their best to make regular payments to pay off their bills," said Mr McGann.

"For example, cash-strapped customers who have been paying their bills in weekly instalments of €5 to €10 will now, if they are to avail of the discounts, have to sign up to making a minimum weekly payment of €15. This will inevitably cause hardship and result in increased levels of bad debt and more people being disconnected."

In this context, Mr McGann cited the Society of St Vincent de Paul who last year disclosed that they had paid out around €4m to help people who were struggling to pay their bills.

"Even in the face of this evidence, ESB / Electric Ireland has pressed ahead with this plan which will further disadvantage the most vulnerable in our society," he said.

“We in the IPU are also concerned that the proposed discounts discriminate against those without access to banking facilities or broadband – for online billing – including many older people and those living in the more remote parts of the country."