Business group IBEC says that the energy bill for Irish business has gone up by a third this year from €3 billion to €4 billion. The group is calling on the Government to take action by introducing more competition to the market.
IBEC says that over the last three years gas costs have jumped by over half, diesel by over 40% and electricity by about a quarter.
ICT Ireland, the IBEC group which represents the major high tech employers, says Irish companies trading abroad are particularly badly hit. It says that while local companies can pass on costs to customers, this is not an option for companies trading internationally.
IBEC says the current model of market liberalisation had seen very limited competition with significant damage to national competitiveness.
It is calling on the Government to ensure the upcoming Budget in December includes provision for a special industry fund to promote energy efficiency.
