Athlone salon owner 'floored' by recent electricity bill
An Athlone salon owner has said she was 'floored' recently after receiving an electricity bill of €2,400, which was an increase of €1,500 on previous bills.
Tina Kiernan, owner and Head Stylist at Love My Hair in Belhavel, Golden Island, was shocked to receive the bill from Electric Ireland for a period of 53 days from the end of May to the beginning of August.
“It's crazy to think this is what (electricity bills) we have to worry about now and nothing can be done to change it.”
“We have lights on all day and four or five dryers on average going all the time. I'm worried about the small things. If I ask fellow business owners they'll say the same.”
The Athlone native said that even in terms of simple services like a blow-dry she must take into consideration how much it will cost her.
She has already been forced to raise prices in the salon due to the rising cost of living and increases in product costs.
“It's going to hit every industry. A €200 credit won't cover anything. There has to be a bigger supplement for business owners. Everybody's feeling the pinch.”
She also raised fears of winter blackouts facing businesses.
"How are we going to manage that over the Christmas, working six or seven days a week? What about people in smaller salons with one or two staff members?”
Luckily, Love My Hair is very busy and has a large clientele but Tina, like others, is worried about the rising cost of energy amid a cost of living crisis.
Having recently celebrated their 6th anniversary, she reflected on her journey to date which has seen staff numbers rise from two to nine.
Post-lockdown she expanded her opening hours but unless there is government intervention to help businesses like her she may be forced to rehink that.
“I wouldn't want to think about cutting staff hours or reducing opening hours for our customers because nothing's been done about it (the rising cost of energy bills).”
“How are we supposed to survive if things carry on this way? It's absolutely scandalous that we as small businesses have to adhere to this," concluded Tina.