Politics

Planned ‘second carbon tax’ will add 10 per cent to energy bills

New renewable heat rule will require energy firms to use a certain volume of biogas in their supply to customers

Aughinish Alumina, the Limerick-based alumina producer and one of the largest energy users in the country, has warned that the new renewable heat rule could cost it €83 million per year. Picture: Liam Burke/Press 22

Households and businesses are facing a ‘second carbon tax’ on oil, gas and coal next year which will ultimately increase their energy bills by over 10 per cent.

Eamon Ryan, the Minister for the Environment, is bringing in a new renewable heat rule to discourage the continued use of fossil fuels.

It will require gas companies to supply their customers with a certain volume of biogas generated from the likes of food waste, farm slurry ...