17,749 had power cut off in 2011
A TOTAL of 17,749 homes and businesses had their electricity cut off last year, according to figures released yesterday.
While many of these represented families struggling to pay their bills, a report by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), said that up to 30pc of domestic premises cut off could have been vacant.
The disconnection figure represented an increase of 7pc on 2010.
The proportion of those cut off remained roughly the same as last year with 80pc accounted for by domestic users and 20pc by commercial premises.
The CER has now requested that network companies estimate the level of vacant premises being cut off.
Irish Independent
