Long trek for ESB customers

By Yvonne Brennan

By virtue of its size and vast population one would imagine that the Liberties would have its own ESB shop where bills can be easily paid. Sadly however, this is not the case.

The lack of such a service in the area undoubtedly causes inconvenience for its residents. They are forced to travel to Fleet Street or Ballyfermot in order to pay their bills. This often involves a bus journey which incurs further costs.

Another option available to residents is that their bills can be paid through the bank by credit transfer. Persons are not required to have an account with the bank. Nevertheless, an extra charge of 40 pence is involved when paying each bill.

Local residents have expressed their displeasure concerning the lack of this service in their area. One man, a pensioner from Clanbrassil Street, spoke of the inconvenience involved in getting a bus in order to pay his bill. He said that he "would like to see an ESB shop in the area". Patricia Ray also believed that "it would be very handy if we had a shop here, especially for pensioners." Mary Mitchell suggested, "I wouldn’t have to pay an extra 40 pence to the bank if there was a shop nearer."

Despite the concern of the residents over the absence of the service, the ESB have no plans to set up a shop in the area in the foreseeable future. Michael Kelly, press officer for the ESB stated that the company "tries to provide as many shops as we possibly can". Although he sympathised with the inconveniences involved, he claimed that "it is just not possible, economically speaking, to have an ESB shop in every area".

It appears, therefore, that pensioners and other Liberties residents will have to continue to travel out of the area, or incur bank charges, in order to pay their electricity bills.