Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
151. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that will be in place in future Government electricity credits to ensure persons who are on subsidiary meters, yet are paying bills on a full property, will be able to avail of the full grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47896/22]
View answer152. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of apartments and studios in larger buildings that are on subsidiary meters to the main electricity account and therefore not entitled to the full electricity credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47897/22]
View answer176. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a process for the electricity credits to be directly passed on to individual tenants who are in apartment blocks, with their own meters, but are registered through one meter-point-reference-number, usually with a landlord, or a county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48615/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 152 and 176 together.
Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households and throughout 2022 introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports and as part of Budget 2023 has introduced a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through whereby €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 in each of the following billing periods - November/December 2022, January/February 2023 and March/April 2023 to an estimated 2.2 million domestic electricity accounts, including pay as you go accounts. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion.
Under the previous Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment, a credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT), was applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, May and June 2022. It used the single eligibility criterion of an MPRN to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible without any additional means testing. The payment was applied to domestic electricity accounts i.e. those 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).Upon the scheme’s conclusion on 30 June 2022, over 2.1 million domestic electricity accounts had received the payment, with the value of these payments totalling almost €377 million. This means 99.36% of all eligible domestic electricity accounts had the credit applied. The need to use the meter point registration number (MPRN) as the unique identifier, while ensuring a very broad reach and no application or means testing, does result in a relatively small number of households not being able to access the payment.
While the vast majority of people who rent their homes have their own MPRNs, there may be some who could have arrangements whereby their landlord holds the MPRN and energy costs are paid to the landlord in a variety of ways. There is no data set identifying this cohort. However, my Department has worked with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Residential Tenancies Board to make people aware of the RTB mediation services available to tenants in the event landlords did not pass on the payment to tenants in these situations. The RTB has reported that contacts with them on this matter were extremely low with regard to the first Scheme.
My Department also continues to engage with the Department of Social Protection on how to support people struggling to pay with their energy costs in the context of existing supports for meeting household bills. I note the comprehensive set of measures introduced as part of the Budget 2023 cost of living package aimed at supporting those most in need, including the expansion in eligibility for the Fuel Allowance and an additional lump sum payment of €400 for households in receipt of the Allowance, bringing its total amount for this winter to a total of €1,334.
