The Government is to form a NPHET-style emergency taskforce to tackle the nation’s crisis of spiralling fuel bills, it has emerged.
New legislation to underpin the response is being prepared in a bid to reduce household budgets and costs that could cripple the economy.
An insider told us: “We are looking at some drastic options but people quickly adapted to the previously unthinkable during the Covid restrictions.
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“We have to look at all ways to reduce electricity usage so things like kettle boils could be pooled - with one boil per two households in peak times and families urged to share a cup of tea — or even a colour wash — with the neighbours.
“Power hungry appliances like dish washers, washing machines and two-bar fires may be limited to being used only when it is windy enough for Ireland’s renewable energy stations to generate enough electricity.
“These could also be linked to Met Eireann’s weather warning system.
“If there is a yellow wind warning people can put on a wash, an orange warning could trigger use of dishwashers, while in a red warning you can stick on the tumble dryer TWICE during the day,” the source added.
The struggling hospitality sector may be targeted yet again to save power in an energy crunch it has emerged.
“We don’t envisage having to close pubs but we may ask them to turn off most lights and use candlelight which helps create a cosy atmosphere anyway,” the insider said.
In a bid to increase household budgets - described by political sources as “thinking outside the box” - families will also be asked to share meals with neighbours.
This will be combined with tax breaks for anyone who can design a way to generate electricity from hamster wheels.
Other alternative energy sources - set to be legally enforced from April 1st - include rolling power blackouts in counties and a requirement for householders to remove half the bulbs in their homes.
The new NPHET-style energy taskforce will run initially for the month of April. It’s understood it will be known as NAFET: The National April Fuels Emergency Team.
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