Hard to cut power when you’re stuck in the 1950s like me
Peak-use electricity is the biggest issue in the energy crisis.
If we all turn on the lights and appliances at the same time, we overwhelm the energy grid and fossil fuels are used to generate extra capacity. Using less power at peak times, means we could rely more on wind energy rather than nasty oil and gas.
‘Smart rate’ electricity – which means cheaper power outside peak hours – sounds like a great solution to this problem.
If you can use it effectively, your bill gets slashed. And the electricity grid will be able survive the biggest challenge it will face this winter – avoiding blackouts.
Night-rate electricity can cost as little as half the normal price… which would wipe out the looming energy price increases. There is a catch though. You pay a higher standing charge and night rate electricity usually applies from 11pm-7am or 12am-8am. That’s not as awkward as it sounds as you can always set times for washing machines, dishwashers and emersions to come on when it suits the special low rates.
My own provider – Bord Gáis – even offers a deal where you can get free gas on Saturday or Sunday, which is very handy.
But there’s only one problem… you need a smart meter.
And we don’t have one. We still have one of those ancient black yokes usually stuck in the most awkward part of the house, indoors of course, which must be read by a ‘meter-reading man’ every two months. What is this – the 1950s?
Apparently this will change soon and we’ll all get smart meters, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) tells me. But when?
I called as a consumer to apply for a smart meter and was told I would be ‘put on a list’.
When pressed about the timing, I was told there was no way to tell when this would happen. It was a rolling programme that would go to 2025.
Then I contacted the CER as a journalist to see exactly when this magic meter would be coming my way.
A spokesman responded: ‘We have looked into this for Mr Tyson and can see that he registered as an early adopter this week. We can confirm that his meter exchange has been included in our January 2023 deployment plans for Dublin 13.’
Great – not long to wait. I also asked which areas have been done and which are next? The spokesman said: ‘The rollout commenced in autumn 2019. To date over 900,000 smart meters have been installed in customers’ homes and businesses nationwide. We are aiming to have all 2.4 million meters replaced by the end of 2024. We have completed our first pass in Cork, Bandon, Louth, Kilkenny, Limerick City and Dublin South, and are active across the rest of the country.’
But in the meantime, one and a half million households like mine can’t easily join the fight to
save energy. The Government may have reacted well to the energy crisis by doubling grants for insulation, solar panels and heat pumps but it has been caught on the hop. If we had done this properly years ago, we wouldn’t face the crisis we see looming this winter.
Panda Power became the fourth energy supplier to pull out of the Irish market this week. That impacts 50,000 electricity customers and 10,000 gas customers, who should shop around quickly for a provider to get a nice discount for new customers. If they don’t switch, they’ll be moved to a ‘provider of last resort’ – Electric Ireland or Bord Gáis – and face standard rates of up to 40% more.
Radio presenter doesn’t take populist line shock! Most TV and radio presenters rarely express an unpopular opinion – or indeed any opinion.
But Anton Savage, filling in for Pat Kenny on Newstalk, did just that when he questioned whether it was right for people to be able to give up to €335,000 to each child before paying inheritance tax. This came in response to a proposal to greatly reduce this threshold from the Commission on Tax and Welfare this week.
‘Why does there have to be means for parental wealth to transfer to children? If you have four kids and you’re able to match the top of this threshold that means you have €1.2m in spare capital at the point at which you either pop your clogs or at the point at which you decide to transfer it to your kids. That’s a rich person,’ he said.
And he got a right roasting from listeners. Doesn’t he know that being in favour of any tax will unleash a storm of protest? The Government knows this and is unlikely to make any changes whatsoever.
Personally, I see Anton’s point. Tax should be as low as possible but, if we must pay tax on something, an inheritance is the least painful option to hit.