An alliance of electricity companies and large energy users is asking the Government to address what it calls the “spark gap” – the disparity in gas and electric prices.
Ireland Electrified says levies, taxes and network charges added to customers’ bills means a unit of electricity costs almost three times more than a unit of gas.
Its members, who include ESB, Energia, Bord na Móna and Irish Rail, say the price difference, which makes electricity 2.8 times dearer than gas, is deterring people from switching to electric heat pumps, boilers and cars.
“Even if a heat pump is three times more efficient than a gas boiler, consumers may still find it difficult to make the switch if electricity costs three times as much per unit as gas,” they say in a report published on Thursday.
Part of the price difference is due to charges added to bills to cover extra costs associated with expanding the electricity system.
