ESB staff do not fear rivals in the marketplace

WHILE it is not surprising that the chief executive of Airtricity, Eddie O’Connor, would welcome the break-up of its most effective competitor, ESB, I welcome his contribution to the ongoing energy debate in your letters page (April 27).

Mr O’Connor wonders why ESB unions would be upset at the break-up of ESB and claims to be worried about customers suffering.

We are similarly worried about customers suffering, and our document entitled Through the Looking Glass outlines how customers are being fleeced as a result of Government policy.

In 2000, we had the third lowest electricity prices in the EU 15. Seven years on, and despite Mr O’Connor’s wind, we are now sixth highest in the enlarged EU 25 league table.

Mr O’Connor knows full well that Eirgrid currently has total responsibility for grid connections. The proposals in the white paper will not change or advance this position further, nor could they.

I am not aware that Eirgrid, or the Commission of Energy Regulation (CER), are deluged with complaints that Eirgrid is treating Airtricity, or anybody else, badly in this regard. It is not.

Mr O’Connor should also be aware that ESB does not own “almost all the power stations”. Quite the reverse. ESB will own just 40% of generating capacity in the all-island market from next November.

Household customers, however, may wonder why Mr O’Connor and Airtricity have not been knocking on their door offering them cheap electricity.

Airtricity’s plans to invest in our electricity market — naturally small by international standards — in a way that benefits household consumers are currently non-existent. Maybe it is Mr O’Connor and Airtricity who are afraid of competition? In any event, ESB and its staff are not.

We have supplied electricity to all consumers in this State for 75 years, without fear or favour. We will continue to do so. That means protecting ESB and the agreements that sustain the company in the national interest, in addition to criticising a Government that is falsely, and deliberately, driving up consumer prices simply to make profits for their friends in the private sector.

We have the basis for fair competition now, Mr O’Connor.

How about you coming onto an even playing pitch, and not one deliberately skewed against your most successful competitor and household consumers?

Brendan Ogle

Regional Organiser

ATGWU

55/56 Middle Abbey Street

Dublin 1