THE SOCIETY of St Vincent de Paul has welcomed a promise by the ESB that it will not disconnect older customers who are in arrears during the winter months.
The society has appealed to all energy and telecom companies to deal compassionately with the issue of fees that may be incurred by people who are struggling to pay their energy bills.
It described as “ludicrous” the energy regulator’s insistence that fees for disconnection and reconnection are charged, just over €197 in the case of electricity and €140 in the case of gas. These fees must be waived, it insists.
It has also called on Eircom to reverse its decision to accept a minimum of €20 in weekly payments from October 1st for arrears.
The society expects to have to provide about €4 million to help people who are struggling to pay their bills this year.
The ESB is one of the main sponsors of Positive Ageing Week which began yesterday and is being organised by Age Action Ireland.
The electricity company is sponsoring the Positive Ageing Photographic Exhibition which will be on display until October 3rd in Dublin, Galway and Waterford.
The Dublin exhibition, which takes place in the Georgian Museum near the ESB’s office in Lower Fitzwilliam Street, will be opened by President Mary McAleese on Tuesday.
The aim of Positive Ageing Week is to celebrate ageing. More than 800 events are planned nationwide in 15 Positive Ageing Week towns which include Arklow, Athy, Ballymun, Boyle, Cashel, Drogheda, Dublin, Dundalk, Dungarvan, Galway, Midleton, Sligo, Trim, Tullamore and Waterford.
Planned events range from coffee mornings, film and theatre performances, table quizzes, information talks, to heritage trips, indoor bowling, exercise classes and dinner dances.
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