Utility companies should not profit from gas and energy price rises caused by war

A letter from Mrs Florence Robinson:
By Letters
Published 5th Mar 2022, 08:33 BST
Updated 5th Mar 2022, 08:45 BST
Gas prices have been raised with electricity and oil likely to follow. Perhaps this is inevitable, but what is the government / regulator doing to ensure that any profits are used to soften the blow to consumers?Gas prices have been raised with electricity and oil likely to follow. Perhaps this is inevitable, but what is the government / regulator doing to ensure that any profits are used to soften the blow to consumers?
Gas prices have been raised with electricity and oil likely to follow. Perhaps this is inevitable, but what is the government / regulator doing to ensure that any profits are used to soften the blow to consumers?

We have been brought yet more unwelcome news — gas prices have been raised; and electricity and domestic oil prices are likely to follow.

The utilities and the regulator tell us this is inevitable given events in eastern Europe. Perhaps this is correct, but what is the government/ regulator doing to ensure that any profits, and any other company resources are being used to soften the blow to consumers, and not to soften the blow to shareholders?

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I have seen the streets and pavements around my home, and throughout towns like Ballymena, dug up and left in a deplorable state — residents have endured months of noise, dirt and inconvenience to allow utility companies to pursue their business interests.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

Will pre-Covid/ pre-world-gas-price-crisis profits be used to re-instate our streets, roads and pavements? It seems that the Department for Infrastructure isn’t quite sure what the word reinstatement means.

Mrs Florence Robinson, (Aged 90) Ballymena

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Related topics:Ben LowryBallymenaEuropeDepartment for InfrastructureNorthern Ireland