It’s emission impossible..
Heating cost to soar as carbon tax levy kicks in
The cost of home heating fuels is set to skyrocket after the Government’s new carbon tax level kicked in yesterday.
Millions of hard-pressed taxpayers were already facing huge price increases due to inflation and the war in Ukraine.
But the new carbon tax means the price of gas in all homes across the country will rise by €1.40 each month, with home heating oil expecting to increase by €1.50.
The shocking increases come on top of the already soaring energy prices.
Electric Ireland, SSE Airtricity and Panda Power all increase their electricity and gas prices this week meaning some households could pay around €500 extra each year.
The carbon tax increase has also taken effect adding €20 to the cost of filling an oil tank.
Efforts to stop the rise in costs were slapped down in the Dail last week with the government insisting that measures have been put in place to offset the increases.
Those measures include a €200 electricity bill credit as well as a cut in VAT to gas and electricity and the scrapping of the €58 public service obligation levy.
The rise in costs is a result of a bid to switch to greener energy – proposals to ban turf are on the cards from next September.
Some TDS are calling for the ban to be looked at on a “phased basis”.
The Rural Independent groups say the country will be “destroyed economically” if climate action measures are allowed to continue.
They say just 20% of the money raised by the charge is reinvested in climate projects.
They brought forward a motion in the Dail last week calling for the removal of carbon taxes which they say hit rural Ireland the hardest.
Independent Michael Collins said the Government, which has a stake in Electric Ireland, is taking as much as it can.
He said: “Basically they own that company... and they are making millions and millions of profits
“I don’t begrudge any company in the world making profits because they have to survive, but surely be to god, that company alone should be allowed to pass that back on to the customer.
“Instead of the greedy Government putting their hand in the till, the same with the carbon tax, put your hand in the till.
“And the till is the Irish man and woman’s purse or wallet and that’s the problem here. Grab everything we can give nothing back”.