Bord Gáis to refund bills

CONSUMERS overcharged on their Christmas gas bills will have their money refunded, Bord Gáis have confirmed.

Bord Gáis said any customer receiving bills for the November/December period will now be charged at the old VAT rate of 12.5%, and those who have already received bills for that period will be refunded the extra charges Consumers' Association of Ireland chief executive Dermott Jewell described this decision as a victory for people power, as it was the public backlash to the decision to apply the 1% hike in VAT to bills that prompted the State agency to act.

Since last week, when the issue first came to light, Bord Gáis has been in meeting with the Revenue Commissioners for permission to apply the old 12.5% rate of VAT rate to bills issued in January for gas used before the end of December.