'Heat my home or starve' - the choice facing single mum

A SINGLE mother says she is having to choose between food and heat for her family following changes to the electric payments at her Housing Executive home.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Feb 2010, 09:55 BST
Updated 25th Feb 2010, 14:50 BST

Ruth McCutcheon, 39, moved into hostel accommodation in Killaney Avenue in the city five weeks ago with her two youngest children aged 15 and 12.

On first arriving she paid 25 a week on electric but recently a new electric meter has been installed and she is struggling to keep topping it up.

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The anxious mother, whose son is autistic, says she is now putting between 50 - 60 a week in the meter - a sum she simply can't afford.

She explained: "I am having to choose between feeding my children or putting money in the meter for electric and heat as we have economy 7.

"Not only is the tarriff set too high but I received a letter saying that arrears by a previous tenant in the house would be taken from me so for every 10 I put in it, 4 will go towards the arrears."

Ruth says she should not have to pay for someone else's failings and that her tarrif on the meter needs adjusted immediatedly. "It's all very well that I might be credited back for the excess tarriff once it is fixed but I am struggling and I don't have the cash to keep up with the meter now."

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A spokesman for the Housing Executive explained that until recently they charged residents of hostels approximately 25 per week on top of their rent for the use of electricity but in some cases this charge did not cover the actual cost of electricity being used by a resident.

He said that during the past few weeks new electricity meters have been installed and residents have been provided with a prepay card.

"The amount that residents will now pay should more accurately reflect the amount of electricity that they are using," he said.

The spokesman added: "We understand, however, that an additional amount for setting up the new system has been incorrectly charged by NIE, and we will be taking this matter up with them to have the situation resolved as soon as possible.

"There should be no question of any arrears by a previous resident in the hostel being charged to a new resident and we will investigate how anyone may have understood this to be the case."