Government advice on energy conservation coming

The Government will soon issue advice on how to conserve energy use amid soaring fuel costs.

Two weeks ago, the coalition signed off on a range of measures to reduce costs, including a temporary excise duty reduction for motor fuels, expansion of the diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators, and an extension of the fuel allowance.

It saw an effective reduction of 22 cents for diesel and 17 cents for petrol – but the savings have largely been eroded by further price increases as a result of the war in the Gulf.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said on Wednesday that the Government will “shortly” be launching an “energy-efficiency programme” for households.

He said: “We will give helpful advice to citizens that if you reduce your energy use in certain ways, you can reduce the cost for yourself in respect of that energy.

“There will be a comprehensive programme of advice, a public communications programme.”

Mr Martin said there would be “nothing yet on demand side measures” because the “supply situation has been OK up to now”.

He added that the 90-day reserves at the National Oil Reserves Agency also provide resilience to the system.

Hauliers and agricultural workers seeking further cuts to fuel prices have staged several protests involving slow-moving convoys on motorways as well as blocking roads in Dublin and other cities.