Already, almost 44% of households in Northern Ireland live in fuel poverty and recent price increases will see a further 50,000 homes joining them. Since May, the price of gas has risen by an alarming 40% and Power NI will have upped its prices by 20% by October this year (on top of another predicted increase of 12.5% from the beginning of next year). In addition to this, the Coal Advisory Service has stated that the price of coal could be raised by 10%. The cost of fuel will have effectively doubled since 2005.
The various energy companies have claimed that these increased tariffs are necessary due to soaring wholesale energy prices. However, last year, Peter Dixon (Chief Executive of Phoenix Gas) was paid a whopping salary of £700,000, placing him as one of the richest individuals in Northern Ireland. In order to conserve its profits, NIE Energy has passed the burden of increased wholesale fuel prices to the consumer. Also, NIE has made a controversial proposal to use customers to pay for its £40 million pension deficit.
The slight restraints on price increases put in place by the Utilities Regulator (NIAUR) are not enough. Ordinary people are still receiving huge energy bills they cannot pay. It is clear that the energy companies need to be put back into public ownership and run democratically for the benefit of working people instead of existing as nothing more than profit driven, private enterprises. As winter approaches we need to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable in society not the safety of profits for energy company executives.
Youth Fight for Jobs is demanding the immediate abolition of Steps to Work, the scheme introduced by the Assembly which forces the unemployed to work for free. Steps to Work can be compared to modern-day slave labour. If people refuse to participate, they face getting their dole cut off – not much of a choice there! Employers don’t have to pay a single penny in wages to those who are put to work.
Peter Hadden died peacefully at his home in Belfast on 5 May 2010 and was cremated at Roselawn Cemetery on 10 May. Peter, who died of cancer which he had fought every inch of the way over the previous three years, was 60 years of age.