Interruption to a household utility service for more than three hours will lead to 24 hours free use under proposals published by Fine Gael today.
The plan to reimburse customers of services including gas, electricity, television and telecoms is one of five proposals Fine Gael revealed in its Consumer Charter launched by deputy leader Richard Bruton.
The party relaunched its www.ripoff.iewebsite in response to what Enterprise spokesman Phil Hogan said was shocking increase in prices for householders.
"The key to ending the rip off in these key utilities is injecting new much needed competition into these markets and making sure consumers have the protection they deserve by hurting those service providers who do not provide them with a decent level of service," Mr Hogan said.
The charter also proposes that prices covered by a regulator should kept at, or below, the rate of inflation, unless a clear public interest case can be proven.
In order to boost competition a full review of regulation in Ireland would be undertaken and all non-financial regulators merged into a single entity promoting new entrants into markets.
The Oireachtas would have powers to instruct the regulator to instigate a review of prices where necessary.
A new consumer rights agency with considerably more power than the existing National Consumer Agency would also be created under the terms of the charter.
"These measures will put it up to service providers, the Government and the regulatory regime to give consumers the rights and representation they need to get better, cheaper services," Mr Hogan said.
The party highlighted figures which showed gas prices went up over 100 per cent and electricity 40 per cent in the past five years - 26 per cent and 24 per cent higher than Britain respectively.
It also cited figures showing telecom charges were much higher in Ireland than in the UK.