Co. Clare retailer Flora Crowe’s tweet on €21k energy bill goes viral

Store has modernised with new energy-saving LED lights and fridges towards the end of 2021

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9 November 2022

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A shocking energy bill for almost €21,000 received by a local retailer in Co. Clare has hit the national headlines.

The Gala Supermarket & Bakery in Sixmilebridge in Co Clare is run by Flora Crowe, who tweeted her shock yesterday when she opened her latest energy bill from Bord Gais to find they owed €20,803.41. The family-run business had modernised with new energy-saving LED lights and fridges towards the end of 2021.

Retailer Flora Crowe took to social media yesterday to highlight the issue, wearily captioning a picture of her bill with ‘How’s your day going?”.

She said received a €6,500 energy bill towards the end of 2021, which rose to €8,000 by the year’s end. However, now a year later, the figure is very different.

Flora Crowe added that their account was in credit, so the actual amount of their latest bill was actually closer to €22.500. She has called for the government to place small, family-run businesses in a special category for support as the “lifeblood” of their communities.

The issue has since appeared on national news bulletins and a numerous publications, including the following articles:

Irish supermarket gets whopping €20k electricity bill as cost of living crisis hits rural business – Irish Mirror Online

Irish Business Owner Shocks Twitter With €20,000 Energy Bill (extra.ie)

Clare supermarket receives electricity bill of over €20k | Lovin.ie

Shop owner stunned after receiving €20k Bord Gais electricity bill as family-run business struggling to cope with costs | The Irish Sun (thesun.ie)

Small village store in Clare floored by €20k energy bill as owner jokes they’ll have to switch to candles – Cork Beo