TD says people are paying €1,800 for generators due to electricity supply fears

Roscommon Galway TD Denis Naughten today called on the Government to give a "categoric commitment" that electricity supplies to homes across the country would not be turned off, saying he was aware of reports that older people were paying €1,800 to purchase backup diesel generators.

"The Government and the regulator, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, have caused panic across the country particularly among older people and those with medical appliances, such a dialysis machines, who are afraid that their electricity will be switched off this winter," stated Denis Naughten.

"Comments suggesting that the public should not use ovens between 5 and 7pm are adding to this panic.

"This cannot be allowed to happen, and Government must give a categoric commitment that it will ban any threat to turn off the electricity supply to domestic customers and critical social infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and nursing homes."

The Regional Group of TDs, which includes Deputy Naughten, said it would seek such an assurance in the Dáil next week as part of its request for emergency legislation - the 'Energy Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act' - which would oblige data centres and high-demand industrial electricity customers to use their backup generators to meet the country's needs should electricity be in short supply.

"Reports of a dramatic jump in sales of diesel-fuelled electricity generators for home use, particularly in urban areas, clearly indicates that older and vulnerable people are afraid their electricity will be switched off this winter. This must never be the case," said Denis Naughten

"These generators are being sold for €1,800 and then the homeowner has to pay a registered electrician to have it connected up to their home's electricity supply, which is a significant investment for many people on fixed incomes.

"This is just not good enough, particularly for people who are facing into dramatic increases in their electricity bills, partly as a result of the Government buying in its own diesel generators to back up the growing electricity demand for data centres and large industrial users," he concluded.

The Regional Group will be debating a motion in Dáil Eireann next week seeking to enact its legislation, entitled the 'Energy Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act'.

Part of the proposed legislation will call for the "immediate" reopening of 250 megawatts of power generation at the Midland power stations in Lanesboro and Shannonbridge, to be fuelled by biomass.

The Regional Group said both stations were presently lying idle, despite a 10-year lifespan being left in each of them.