Schools are being “ripped off” by gas bills
Schools are being charged one-third more for gas than they should be because they are treated as businesses, Fine Gael TD Brian Hayes says.
No distinction is being made between schools and businesses when it comes to the price of gas, Fine Gael education spokesperson Brian Hayes has pointed out.
Deputy Hayes has called on the Commission for Energy Regulation to immediately review the charging structure for gas in schools.
“This is a rip-off of children, schools and taxpayers,” he said.
“It’s quite bizarre that, if a school is trying to be ‘green and clean’ by installing and using a natural gas system, they are immediately penalised by a charging structure which treats them as a business. A typical sized school finds that they pay over one third more for gas because there is no distinction made between businesses and schools.
“Take the example of one school in Dublin that pays €20,000 for heat (gas) over a 24 month period, and that switched to gas in 2008. €7,000 of the total cost relates to what is described as a ‘site charge’. The site charge kicks in because, once the school exceeds a certain volume of gas, it is regarded as a business customer.
“This extra charge comes directly from school capitation funds and represents another financial burden on schools.
“The site charge is a charge per day and even when the school in not open, the school has to pay the gas companies for the privilege. The school is forced to pay despite the fact that schools are not open for between 90 and 100 days a year.
“I have spoken to some gas companies and I have been informed that they do not establish the charging structure for gas and that the matter is one for the Commission for Energy Regulation.
“Why should one arm of the state be allowed to rip off schools like this? Schools should not be regarded as businesses for the purposes of paying gas. Alongside this, where is the commitment to green energy fuels?
“It should not be beyond the Regulator and both Ministers Ryan and Coughlan to devise a solution to this problem.
“School capitation funds are at a premium. Schools already have to make do with reduced funding. The current pricing structure for gas needs to be amended so that school boards of management are given a break.”
(Source: FG)