The Taoiseach has said there will be ‘substantial supports’ announced in the coming weeks to help people pay for their energy bills.
As the colder months creep in and gas and electricity prices continue to rise, the advice will be to use household appliances outside of peak hours and turn down the heating, the Independent reports.
The coalition are set to consider a range of measures to reduce energy consumption in the public sector, such as turning off the lights outside public buildings and turning down heating thermostats inside. Employers may also be asked to just heat floors where workers are congregated, rather than entire buildings.
Last week, Electric Ireland announced that they would be increasing residential electricity and gas bills from 1st October after increasing them in August. They advised that electricity bills would increase by 26.7% and residential gas bills by 37.5%, due to “the unprecedented increases in international energy market prices”.
According to the Independent, Taoiseach Micheál Martin denied that the Government was putting responsibility on households to foot high bills and said that energy usage must be reduced. He also said that ‘substantial reports’ will be announced by Government in the coming weeks to help people pay rising energy bills.
He added that ministers will “go as far” as they can in assisting people struggling to pay household bills.
The Taoiseach said the rising cost of energy was “principally” due to the war in Ukraine, and that “pandemic-like supports” will be needed to assist families with bills this winter.
A Government source told the Independent that there will be a “renewed emphasis” on a campaign encouraging the public to use cookers, tumble dryers, washing machines, showers and kettles “more efficiently and outside the peak hours of 4pm to 7pm where possible”. People will also be encouraged to drive at lower speeds to reduce fuel use, and avoid using the car for short journeys.
Header image via Shutterstock
READ NEXT: Viewers upset at ‘dystopian’ Spin The Wheel prize on ITV’s This Morning
