Not too long ago, Minister of Energy Claude Turmes promised that low-income families will not have electricity and gas shut down if they are unable to pay their bills. Nevertheless, a single mother of three, who is registered with the social office, contacted the Pirate Party on Monday morning since her energy providers decided to switch off her access after she was unable to pay her bills.
MP Marc Goergen from the Pirate Party explained that the woman in question did pay her advances, but was unable to cover the open bill due to the current economic situation.
He elaborated: “We immediately contacted Enovos and the Ministry and were told by a clerk that they were unaware that it was prohibited to shut somebody out. A few weeks ago, I specifically enquired about how to protect people in terms of gas and electricity. Minister Turmes promised in the Chamber that low-income families would not be shut out. This morning, we learned of a different case that we will of course bring to the Minister.”
MP Goergen noted that this is not a first-time problem: “I already filed a parliamentary enquiry that showed that hundreds of people were shut out from either gas or electricity supplies in recent years. Now we have another proof that even in times of crisis people may be targeted. And, we are speaking of a mother with three children.”
In the meantime, the family’s electricity supply is back up. The Pirate Party paid the advance.
