Cloud hangs over energy pricing

AS 2011 draws to a close, householders could be asking themselves whether they should be with The Big Switch; Ireland’s Got A New Energy; or Energy Made Better?

Considering the blanket advertising for electricity, one could be forgiven for being confused about which energy provider delivers the best value for money. The question one should ask is: “Why do we need any new entrants in the Irish energy market at all, considering Ireland already had a competent ESB providing the lowest electricity prices in Europe?”

Over recent years, and under the instruction of Ireland&’s energy regulator, the ESB has been forced to raise prices under the premise that this ultimately will be to the benefit of the consumer. Of course, the opposite has been the case. Ireland’s electricity costs are rigged higher through government intervention, and the illusion of a free-market price for electricity has been advertised to the public masquerading as competition. Current government policies should be about restoring Ireland’s competitiveness, and reducing energy costs should be central to that policy. So why, therefore, is Ireland engaged in a counterproductive policy ensuring high electricity prices permanently?