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thisisadamh · 19-08-2010, 23:39

Hi all. I have a topic that I would like to discuss.
In the news recently there have been stories about the esb cutting off homes electricity die to un-paid bills.
Now I think that electricity should be like water, free (up to a certain limit of course). I believe that in todays world electricity is something you need to survive, therefore everyone in Ireland should get a monthly quota for free.

What is everyone else's view on this?

Adam

liammur · 19-08-2010, 23:56

I think i saw a thread about the esb already.

I don't think too many would say no to that.
The esb are certainly getting more militant and probably taking advantage of peoples' misfortunes.

**FreudianSlippers** · 19-08-2010, 23:58

Water shouldn't be free either.

Zebra3 · 20-08-2010, 00:00

If people are spending money on drink and drugs, f&&k them.

If they are making genuine attempts to pay, give them a chance.

How to tell the difference? I've no idea.

LeinsterDub · 20-08-2010, 10:31

We are struggling to keep up with demand for electric , give it away a lot of people would run their heating 24/7 or what have you.

cson · 20-08-2010, 10:36

To be quite honest it's a poorly researched news story. There's a huge amount of unoccupied housing stock - in most cases these houses are connected to the ESB network thus even if you only had something like a connection charge it still goes unpaid thus the ESB cut off supply. There is no one living there in most cases.

And really, suggesting that electricity be free? I could be very cutting in my answer to that but I'll simply say that it is an absolute non runner. As per the rest of Europe we should have water charges here too - but they should be metered.

thisisadamh · 20-08-2010, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeinsterDub

We are struggling to keep up with demand for electric , give it away a lot of people would run their heating 24/7 or what have you.

People would not be running their heating 24/7 because limits would be in place. What I am saying is that people will get a certain number of units per month for free. If they go over they will be charged.

liammur · 20-08-2010, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by cson

To be quite honest it's a poorly researched news story. There's a huge amount of unoccupied housing stock - in most cases these houses are connected to the ESB network thus even if you only had something like a connection charge it still goes unpaid thus the ESB cut off supply. There is no one living there in most cases.

This thought occured to me too, however Bord Gais are also cutting off a big number, a few hundred a month.

Cookie_Monster · 20-08-2010, 12:59

Its hard to have sympathy for people who refuse to pay. Those who can't is a lot greyer. Electricity, in my experience, is not a big bill, 50 quid a month. If you truly are in a bad situation you can cut it way back with ease also: don't use TV, turn lights off and so forth.

Cutting people off is a final step and they do try to setup payment plans with people first. What more can they do?

liammur · 20-08-2010, 13:07

It's all relative, €50 to you may not be much, it might be to someone swamped with bills.
However, there must be massive desperation out there if people can't genuinely pay an esb bill

murphaph · 20-08-2010, 14:25

Food is even more essential than ESB, but it's not free either!

The ESB have been to lax on non_payers for years. People take the p!ss (especially in rented accomodation).

Davidth88 · 20-08-2010, 14:52

Guys , did anyone else here on Newstalk Weds ? The guy in Newcastle Co Dublin who got a bill for over 2k ( estimated bills for 2 odd years )

They ( ESB ) basically demanded he settle it up in a short space of time , no excuses , or you get cut off .

Now not withstanding the guy should have queried the estimated bills ( not everyone is that on the ball ), pretty nasty episode.

LeinsterDub · 20-08-2010, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidth88

Guys , did anyone else here on Newstalk Weds ? The guy in Newcastle Co Dublin who got a bill for over 2k ( estimated bills for 2 odd years )

They ( ESB ) basically demanded he settle it up in a short space of time , no excuses , or you get cut off .

Now not withstanding the guy should have queried the estimated bills ( not everyone is that on the ball ), pretty nasty episode.

Did he think electric was free for 2 years? If he paid it every 2nd month his bill would be far more manageable .

limklad · 20-08-2010, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeinsterDub

Did he think electric was free for 2 years? If he paid it every 2nd month his bill would be far more manageable .

In Fairness, If the ESB is only getting to read his meter two years later then they should have their arses kicked for this.
I had the opposite situation, for 8 bills in a row I was getting high bills, I had already cut back on usage but still getting high bills. I looked at the previous Bills, and discovered that they were all estimated for three years. For years I usually get two or Three estimate reading on my bill until recent years. I read the meter and was shock that their reading was far higher. I rang up to complain.
She claimed that they had a guy out to read it last year. I had my previous years bills and ask her to clarify her comments, she repeat it again. I then told her I had the previous 5 years bills on my lap. The last actual reading according to their bill was three years. So told me That I was lying that she would report me. I asked her to do so, I also ask for the name of the Complaint department and for regulator That Over see the ESB. She tried to fob me off I repeated my demand. She hung up. Two Day later I had a knock on the Door and it was the meter man and he look complex and ask me did I tamper with the meter. I said no and went outside to look at it. It wasn't and then demanded why he accused me of Tampering with it. I had my mobile and rang the Guards. He back down on their arrival. I gave my statement to the guards and showed them the ESB statements and explained that I called the ESB about the Estimate bills and the False accusation of Tampering with the Meter. I wanted to Charge the ESB with Harassment and for False allegations. The Guards told the meter man to go away. I took several Photo's of the Meter box and gave the Guards copies as Tampering with ESB Meter is an offence. They agreed with me that it was not tampered with. Three Days later I got a revise bill (loads of credit, no instrest) and no apologies.

There is always an offence and the Customer is wrong, then it is fines and/or jail time, but when it is the other way around there is nothing.

liammur · 20-08-2010, 16:01

I would tend to agree. ESB seem to have changed policy since competition has arrived in the market.

View Poll Results: Should electricity be free like water (up to a limit of course)
Yes	12	13.79%
No	75	86.21%
Voters: 87. You may not vote on this poll

19-08-2010, 23:39	#1
thisisadamh Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 498 Adverts \| Friends	ESB cutting off homes electricity Hi all. I have a topic that I would like to discuss. In the news recently there have been stories about the esb cutting off homes electricity die to un-paid bills. Now I think that electricity should be like water, free (up to a certain limit of course). I believe that in todays world electricity is something you need to survive, therefore everyone in Ireland should get a monthly quota for free. What is everyone else's view on this? Adam

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19-08-2010, 23:56	#2
liammur Closed Account Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,455 Adverts \| Friends	I think i saw a thread about the esb already. I don't think too many would say no to that. The esb are certainly getting more militant and probably taking advantage of peoples' misfortunes.

19-08-2010, 23:58	#3
FreudianSlippers Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Baile �tha Cliath Posts: 9,810 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Legal Discussion	Water shouldn't be free either.

20-08-2010, 00:00	#4
Zebra3 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Valhalla Posts: 6,377 Adverts \| Friends	If people are spending money on drink and drugs, f&&k them. If they are making genuine attempts to pay, give them a chance. How to tell the difference? I've no idea.

20-08-2010, 10:31	#5
LeinsterDub Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 541 Adverts \| Friends	We are struggling to keep up with demand for electric , give it away a lot of people would run their heating 24/7 or what have you.

20-08-2010, 10:36	#6
cson Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: My Caravan Travels From Place To Place Posts: 11,040 Adverts \| Friends	To be quite honest it's a poorly researched news story. There's a huge amount of unoccupied housing stock - in most cases these houses are connected to the ESB network thus even if you only had something like a connection charge it still goes unpaid thus the ESB cut off supply. There is no one living there in most cases. And really, suggesting that electricity be free? I could be very cutting in my answer to that but I'll simply say that it is an absolute non runner. As per the rest of Europe we should have water charges here too - but they should be metered.

20-08-2010, 12:59	#9
Cookie_Monster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NP, NI, NZ Posts: 17,258 Adverts \| Friends	Its hard to have sympathy for people who refuse to pay. Those who can't is a lot greyer. Electricity, in my experience, is not a big bill, 50 quid a month. If you truly are in a bad situation you can cut it way back with ease also: don't use TV, turn lights off and so forth. Cutting people off is a final step and they do try to setup payment plans with people first. What more can they do?

20-08-2010, 13:07	#10
liammur Closed Account Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,455 Adverts \| Friends	It's all relative, €50 to you may not be much, it might be to someone swamped with bills. However, there must be massive desperation out there if people can't genuinely pay an esb bill

20-08-2010, 14:25	#11
murphaph Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Berlin Posts: 11,780 Adverts \| Friends	Food is even more essential than ESB, but it's not free either! The ESB have been to lax on non_payers for years. People take the p!ss (especially in rented accomodation).

20-08-2010, 14:52	#12
Davidth88 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,567 Adverts \| Friends	Guys , did anyone else here on Newstalk Weds ? The guy in Newcastle Co Dublin who got a bill for over 2k ( estimated bills for 2 odd years ) They ( ESB ) basically demanded he settle it up in a short space of time , no excuses , or you get cut off . Now not withstanding the guy should have queried the estimated bills ( not everyone is that on the ball ), pretty nasty episode.

20-08-2010, 16:01	#15
liammur Closed Account Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,455 Adverts \| Friends	I would tend to agree. ESB seem to have changed policy since competition has arrived in the market.