Catalunya to prevent utility firms from cutting off power to householders in poverty this winter
Monday, December 23, 2013 @ 11:55 AM
CATALUNYA'S regional government plans to push through a draft bill of law banning electricity and gas companies from cutting off the supply to residents struggling with poverty or in a precarious financial situation.
Regional minister for business Felip Puig wants to get the new legislation on the table before the end of the year so that those families who have little or no income and cannot pay their fuel bills will not be left with no heating or means of cooking during the winter.
Spain's central government has already rejected a proposal to pass a similar law affecting the whole country.
Puig says he is working with utility boards to ascertain how this move will be financed, although part of it is expected to come out of public funds.
He has also criticised the monopoly which the main utility boards – all of which are State-owned and mean residents in Spain have no option to choose alternative suppliers – have historically enjoyed.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com