Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2022
76. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the accessibility of the €200 electricity grant for social housing tenants who use a pay-as-you-go service; if an initial top-up is required to access it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21917/22]
View answerThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 established a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. The credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) is being applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, May and June, and includes prepay meters.This scheme is in addition to the Government’s ongoing measures to address energy poverty and the protection of vulnerable customers, and is in addition to the measures introduced in the Budget. Additional measures have also been announced by Government to deal with rising energy costs.Prepay customers will be notified by their supplier via an email/text message/or message on the top-up note to advise them that the credit has been applied to their account. Suppliers will issue customers with a 40 code which is used when vending, to redeem the credit. For customers with Lifestyle or Smart prepay meters, the credit will be automatically applied to the vend after the supplier has activated the credit to the customer’s account.There is a small population of older prepayment meters which, due to their age and inbuilt monetary limits, will require the customer to redeem their credit over three separate transactions over the space of a few days. In these cases, to redeem each stage of the credit, customers will need to buy a (minimum) €10 top up. When they do this they will receive a new code which will credit their meter with the Government Electricity Credit when entered. Once the credit is applied to the customer’s account/meter they can access it by vending 3 times. The Deputy may also wish to note that updates on the electricity credit, including frequently asked questions, are available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/
