Rabbitte staying out of 'low user charge' issue

The Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte has indicated that he will not intervene on the issue of a new 'low user standing charge' introduced by ESB Electric Ireland.

It emerged yesterday that households using less than two units of electricity per day will be charged an average of 15.5c per day.

Consumer groups have called on Minister Rabbitte to act, but in a reply to a Dáil question today he outlined how charges and tariffs are a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation.

He has also received assurances that customers in receipt of free electricity allowances or those on household budget plans or with pay-as-you-go metres will not be affected.