Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
178. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the options available to a priority vulnerable electricity customer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27172/23]
View answerThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial and liberalised. Responsibility for the regulation of retail electricity and gas markets was assigned to the CRU under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation. In line with long standing policy on deregulating price setting, CRU ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011, and in the gas market in 2014. Price setting by electricity suppliers, including standing charges is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned.
The CRU has a legislative obligation to protect the interest of energy customers and promote competition in retail energy markets. Under its legal mandate, the CRU is responsible for implementing customer protection measures, including those for vulnerable customers, which is done by the CRU through the placing of requirements on electricity and gas suppliers and electricity and gas network companies. These obligations are set out in the Electricity and Gas Suppliers’ Handbook and electricity and gas suppliers must comply with these obligations under their supply licence conditions.
Vulnerable customers who are critically dependent on electricity powered equipment, which includes but is not limited to life protecting devices, assistive technologies to support independent living and medical equipment, cannot be disconnected for non-payment of account at any time.
There is an obligation on suppliers to place all registered vulnerable customers on the most economic tariff available for their chosen payment method and billing format.
The SEAI are also rolling out a scheme to provide Solar PV to vulnerable customers registered as being dependent on electrically powered assistive devices. Solar PV Scheme For Medically Vulnerable Households (activ8energies.com).
