18/05/2010

200 Jobs Announced By Energy Firm

Energy firm Airtricity has revealed the arrival of 200 new jobs after plans were finalized for it to begin supplying gas in Ireland for the first time.

The company says customers could save up to €210 from their annual fuel bills by switching to its electricity and gas service from ESB and Bórd Gáis respectively.

Airtricity has already signed up 200,000 electricity customers by offering discounts of up to 13% on ESB prices.

It is now offering to undercut Bórd Gáis by up to 10%.

Airtricity Managing Director Kevin Greenhorn said the company is growing rapidly and creating new employment as a result.

He said 100 of the jobs announced today will be in Airtricity itself in sales support and customer service, while the other 100 will be outsourced sales roles nationwide.

"It's good news for the customers, good news for the company and good news for Ireland," Mr Greenhorn said.

Last week, Bord Gáis Éireann published its Annual Report for 2009 saying it's latest figures confirmed the company had become Ireland’s largest dual-fuel energy supplier. The state owned supplier said 350,000 new customers had switched over to Bord Gáis Energy bringing the company’s customer base over its target of one million.

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive John Mullins said “Bord Gáis Éireann remains highly profitable and a very significant state asset.

“Profits before tax reached €119m for 2009 and while this is down by €32m on 2008, it represents a strong performance as Bord Gáis reduced gas prices three times in a twelve month period and undertook a substantial investment programme involving acquisitions as well as capital expenditure in the core business.”

(DW/GK)


Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 July 2011
'Hangover' Cannot Be Underestimated, Says Drinkaware
The effect of the 'Morning After' cannot be underestimated, says drinkaware.ie ahead of the August bank holiday weekend. The reality is that many people do not think about what they drank the night before when they get in the car the following morning. Fionnuala Sheehan, drinkaware.
18 September 2012
Bord Gáis Announce 5% Price Increase
Domestic electricity bills could increase by more than €50 a year as Bord Gáis announce a 5% price hike. The price increase, which will come into effect from 15 October, will see customers paying over 15% more for their electricity than 12 months ago.
13 March 2024
SDLP Launches Petition For Restoration Of Integrated Schools Funding
The SDLP has launched a petition calling for the restoration of funding for new buildings at ten integrated schools across NI. The petition follows the recent announcement of the withdrawal of this funding as part of the financial package agreed between Executive parties and the UK Government.
21 April 2010
ESB Takes Control Of Own Prices
The Electricity Supply Board of Ireland (ESB) will be allowed to set its own electricity prices if it complies with a number of stipulations expected to be published today by the Commission for Energy Regulation.
11 July 2012
Committee Meet To Discuss Gas Network Development
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications will today meet with representatives of Bord Gáis Networks (BGN) to discuss its work in connecting homes and businesses to Ireland's gas network.