Comments on: When is a decrease not a decrease? http://www.mamanpoulet.com/when-is-a-decrease-not-a-decreas/ Clucking away crookedly through media, politics and life. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:53:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave http://www.mamanpoulet.com/when-is-a-decrease-not-a-decreas/comment-page-1/#comment-137918 Dave Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:21:18 +0000 http://www.mamanpoulet.com/?p=2772#comment-137918 Well, yeah, the regulator made the decision - but it was requested by Bord Gais. It's the third time in the past year they've made reductions, and in stark contrast to the behaviour of the semi-state energy companies over the past decade, but obviously revealing about the inflated margins they've been operating with. You make a good point about the lazy reporting of the good news, but I would still be sceptical about the government's stomach for approving a substantial increase in home heating costs. It would be the wrong decision, but our government is brilliant at those. Well, yeah, the regulator made the decision – but it was requested by Bord Gais. It’s the third time in the past year they’ve made reductions, and in stark contrast to the behaviour of the semi-state energy companies over the past decade, but obviously revealing about the inflated margins they’ve been operating with.

You make a good point about the lazy reporting of the good news, but I would still be sceptical about the government’s stomach for approving a substantial increase in home heating costs. It would be the wrong decision, but our government is brilliant at those.

]]> By: Maman Poulet http://www.mamanpoulet.com/when-is-a-decrease-not-a-decreas/comment-page-1/#comment-137279 Maman Poulet Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:46:17 +0000 http://www.mamanpoulet.com/?p=2772#comment-137279 Dave it's coming in on May 1 of this year. and it's not Bord Gaid making the decision - it's the regulator. I'm refering to the way in which ordinary consumers may view this - one might spin it all they like but I don't think the carbon tax on home heating has been well flagged at all. The good news of fuel cost reductions mentioned everywhere yesterday with few if any referring to the fact that fuel costs will rise again in 4 months. Dave it’s coming in on May 1 of this year. and it’s not Bord Gaid making the decision – it’s the regulator.

I’m refering to the way in which ordinary consumers may view this – one might spin it all they like but I don’t think the carbon tax on home heating has been well flagged at all. The good news of fuel cost reductions mentioned everywhere yesterday with few if any referring to the fact that fuel costs will rise again in 4 months.

]]> By: Daniel Sullivan http://www.mamanpoulet.com/when-is-a-decrease-not-a-decreas/comment-page-1/#comment-137277 Daniel Sullivan Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:42:03 +0000 http://www.mamanpoulet.com/?p=2772#comment-137277 Surely, it's just a decrease followed later on by an well flagged increase? I don't see the introduction of a carbon tax as negating the Bord Gais decrease. Surely, it’s just a decrease followed later on by an well flagged increase? I don’t see the introduction of a carbon tax as negating the Bord Gais decrease.

]]> By: Dave http://www.mamanpoulet.com/when-is-a-decrease-not-a-decreas/comment-page-1/#comment-137210 Dave Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:51:13 +0000 http://www.mamanpoulet.com/?p=2772#comment-137210 The carbon tax won't apply to heating bills until after the next budget - and even then it may not occur - so your Bord Gais bill won't be affected by the carbon tax. To be fair, there is two substantially different mechanisms at work here. The carbon tax is a progressive, forward-thinking tax, designed to dis-incentivise carbon-intensive activities such as driving. On the other hand, Bord Gais have made the surprising undertaking to unilaterally reduce their already-inflated prices, and they should be commended for that - if only the ESB would follow their lead, we'd be laughing. The carbon tax won’t apply to heating bills until after the next budget – and even then it may not occur – so your Bord Gais bill won’t be affected by the carbon tax.

To be fair, there is two substantially different mechanisms at work here. The carbon tax is a progressive, forward-thinking tax, designed to dis-incentivise carbon-intensive activities such as driving. On the other hand, Bord Gais have made the surprising undertaking to unilaterally reduce their already-inflated prices, and they should be commended for that – if only the ESB would follow their lead, we’d be laughing.

]]> By: Pidge http://www.mamanpoulet.com/when-is-a-decrease-not-a-decreas/comment-page-1/#comment-137151 Pidge Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:52:29 +0000 http://www.mamanpoulet.com/?p=2772#comment-137151 Including the two price reductions in 2009 (May and October), the average customer will save about €4.99 per week (http://tinyurl.com/yatt3zx), and that's only on gas. Electricity customers can easily make saving too, thanks to Airtricity and BG entering the market. Add to that the fact that the majority of the revenue generated by the carbon tax will go to energy efficiency grants, rural transport, improving fuel efficiency in low-income households (see Annex E of the 2010 Budget), and towards alleviating fuel poverty, I think it's a pretty good deal, really. Including the two price reductions in 2009 (May and October), the average customer will save about €4.99 per week (http://tinyurl.com/yatt3zx), and that’s only on gas. Electricity customers can easily make saving too, thanks to Airtricity and BG entering the market.

Add to that the fact that the majority of the revenue generated by the carbon tax will go to energy efficiency grants, rural transport, improving fuel efficiency in low-income households (see Annex E of the 2010 Budget), and towards alleviating fuel poverty, I think it’s a pretty good deal, really.

]]>