Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 May 2025
175. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the case of a person (details supplied) who received neither the November or January electricity account credit can be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21784/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2025, Government approved a new tranche of Electricity Credits, the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme IV through which over 2.2 million households will receive two payments of €125 (inclusive of VAT) in the November/December 2024 and January/February 2025 billing cycles, at a total cost of €520 million (excluding VAT).
The scheme is operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks), and electricity suppliers and overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Based on the number of domestic electricity accounts, ESBN will make payments to the individual energy suppliers who will then credit each domestic electricity account held with them.
The payments are being applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2). Under the scheme, usage levels are assessed to ensure that payments are withheld in relation to low usage electricity accounts identified by the distribution system operator, to prevent the payment from being applied to vacant houses. Credits will not be withheld from accounts with a financial hardship meter, accounts held by registered as a vulnerable customer or accounts which have low usage due to the exporting of energy to the grid through microgeneration.
The Scheme allows for review by a customer’s electricity supplier, if contacted by a customer who has not received the payment. The customer can seek further review by the CRU, which has oversight of the Scheme, following the decision of the electricity supplier. Under the Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Act 2023, it is the function of the CRU to report to the Minister in relation to the performance by the distribution system operator and electricity suppliers of the respective functions conferred on them by or under the Act.
