Greater increase in night rate power

Some 150,000 ESB customers who use night rate electricity may face a larger than expected increase in their electricity bills this month.

The ESB announced an average increase of 4.1 per cent in electricity charges from January 1st. However, the cost of night rate electricity has increased by 14 per cent, from 6.15c a unit (including VAT) to 6.99c a unit. There was also an increase in the standing charge for night storage heating from €1.19 to €1.23 a unit.

The day domestic rate has gone up up from 13.85c including VAT to 14.45c. The increases were part of a package announced by the Commission for Energy Regulation and were introduced to cover increased fuel and running costs.

An ESB spokesman acknowledged that householders who used a lot of night rate electricity could experience an increase greater than 4.1 per cent in their bills, but said that some householders might see a reduction.

"The 4.1 per cent increase was an average increase for every unit the ESB supplies, including standing charges," he said, "but within each tariff there are differences."