Millions of energy customers are waking up to price hikes this morning.
Electric Ireland, SSE Airtricity and Panda Power all increase their electricity and gas prices from today, meaning some households will pay around 500 euro extra a year.
The carbon tax increase has also taken effect, adding 20 euro to the cost of filling an oil tank, and 1 euro 40 cents to the average monthly gas bill.
Rural Independent TD, Michael Collins, believes the Government, which has a stake in Electric Ireland, is taking as much as it can:
"Basically they own that company so I can't understand, and they're making millions and millions and millions of profits and I don't begrudge any companies making profit because they have the supply would surely be to God that company alone could be allowed pass that back on to the customer instead of the greedy Government putting their hand in the till, the same as the carbon tax, put your hand in the till and the till is the Irish man and woman's purse or wallet. That's the problem here, grab everything we can, give nothing back."
