Sir, – Your report on the ESB and EirGrid upgrade plans list the cost at €13.8 billion, maybe more (“Commission backs €19bn plan for electricity system,” Business, December 16th). The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities approved this expenditure and allowed an additional €1 a month on household bills as a result.
Paying €1 a month over five years comes to €60. The Central Statistics Office says we have around 1.8 million households. Each paying €60 will generate €108 million in the five years. That is a long way from €13.8 billion, and is less than one per cent of the planned outlay.
A bit more clarity as to where the other 99 per cent is coming from, and who will pay it, would be nice because I can’t shake off the feeling it just might be the customers. Again. – Yours, etc,
FRANK NEENAN,
RM Block
Tullow Road,
Carlow.
