Airtricity is to increase the cost of its standing charge for both gas and electricity by between 9 and 15 per cent in a move which will generate in excess of €8 million for the company over the next year.
It blames the cost of managing the growing utility arrears problem for its move.
Airtricity’s electricity standing charge will increase by €1.70 a month while the gas standing charge will go up by €1 a month. There will be no rise for customers with prepayment meters. Airtricity says the price rises are due to a significant increase in costs related to recovering debt.