THE ELECTRICITY OR gas supply in over 1500 properties was cut off in April this year, the latest figures reveal.
However, ‘anecdotal evidence’ from suppliers suggest that a significant number of these were vacant properties.
At the beginning of March this year, both ESB and Bord Gáis Networks altered the way vacant sites are identified during the disconnection process by the network technician that visits the site.
Previously, between 36% and 40% of sites disconnected where deemed to be vacant.
The Commission for Energy Regulation outlines that 805 properties had their domestic electricity supply disconnected, with Electric Ireland customers making up more than half of these.
Just over 730 saw their gas supply cut off, with the vast majority of these (81%) being Bord Gáis Energy customers.
The disconnection figures for the first quarter of this year represent a fall of 41% in electricity and 29% in gas.
However, CER advised that “caution by must must be taken when comparing data from early 2014 with other periods as a moratorium on domestic disconnections was in place in early 2014″.
Over 15,000 gas and electricity customers in Ireland were disconnected in 2013 for non-payment, far less than previous years.
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