The biggest union at the ESB has published a report which blames Government energy policy for 'massively increased prices' and 'decreased efficiency' over the past seven years.
The AT&GWU report claims that the attempted liberalisation of the supply market has resulted in higher prices.
'Since 2000 prices in real terms have risen by more than twice the rise in the ESB's operating costs,' said Brendan Ogle of the AT&GWU.
He said the report has put forward proposals which will free the ESB to operate competitively, bring down prices and finance a real approach to sustainable energy.
Some of the proposals include removing the power of the regulator to fix prices, and abolishing the public service obligation levy and financing renewable technology through a 12.5% royalty tax on off-shore exploration.
He said that workers are blamed for rising prices, but the increases are the result of decisions on the part of the Government and the regulator.
He disputed a recent Deloitte report which highlighted higher labour costs at the ESB were responsible for rising electricity costs.
'Labour costs at the ESB only represents 16% of the company's total operating costs', he said.
