Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2025
187. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he approved the regulators decision to a CRU Decision on additional customer protection measures for household electricity and gas customers 2025/2026 published in September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66821/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was assigned consumer protection functions under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation, and has statutory responsibility for the compliance by energy suppliers with their consumer protection obligations. The CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister.
Government is deeply conscious of the impact which rising energy prices, driven by an unprecedented increase in wholesale prices and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have had on Irish consumers and businesses. The Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward taxation measures to help contain energy costs.
Each year, the CRU carries out a review on the effectiveness of customer protection measures over the past winter, as well as deciding the measures to be retained for the forthcoming winter. The additional protection measures originally identified by the CRU in 2022 have been monitored with data and feedback, sought by the CRU, from customer representative groups, network operators and suppliers, to fully understand the impact for all customers groups, including vulnerable customers.
For the upcoming Winter period 2025/26, some of the key customer protection measures that will remain in place include a disconnection moratorium, minimum timelines for debt repayment plans, discounted tariffs for financial hardship meter customers and promotion by energy suppliers of the vulnerable customer register.
Given the independent role of the CRU, Ministerial approval for the customer protection measures for customers for 2025/2026 was not required. However, I support and welcome the measures which will help consumers over the winter.
