Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2023
141. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 29 November 2022, if he is aware that the Residential Tenancies Board has advised that disputes relating to electricity credit payments fall outside the remit of the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10623/23]
View answerThe 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 which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - November/December 2022, January/February 2023, and March/April 2023. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion.
The payment is applied to domestic electricity accounts 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). This includes accounts with pre-pay meters. The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without an application.
ESB networks, the electricity distribution system operator operates the scheme by virtue of its existing interface with all electricity suppliers. ESBN makes payments to the individual energy suppliers, who then credit individual domestic electricity accounts. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is charged with oversight of the scheme.
While I am advised by the Department of Housing, Heritage & Local Government that the majority of residential tenants have their own MPRNs, and therefore receive the payment directly, others could have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each bill and, in those cases, will benefit from the payment because the amount of the bill will be reduced by the amount of the payment. A small proportion could have other arrangements in place whereby electricity costs are part of the rental cost. With the establishment of the first Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme, my Department worked with the Department of Housing, Heritage & Local Government 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 have been extremely low.
