Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
98. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters for domestic customers in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36656/23]
View answer99. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters; the total number for domestic customers, per company, in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36657/23]
View answer100. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of new ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters for domestic customers that were installed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36658/23]
View answer101. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters for domestic customers; the proportion and total classified as ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36659/23]
View answer102. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average total of arrears a domestic household was in before a ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meter was installed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36660/23]
View answer103. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average time a household was in arrears in before a ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meter was installed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36661/23]
View answer104. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the process through which a domestic customer with a ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go meter, with a view to reducing arrears on the energy bills, can switch back to a credit meter, if this is allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36662/23]
View answer105. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of domestic customers with a pay-as-you-go meter, and those with a ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go meter, that switched back to credit meters in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36663/23]
View answer106. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the process through which a ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meter is installed not at the request of the customer; if there is a threshold that must be reached before a pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meter is installed when not requested by the customer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36664/23]
View answer107. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of domestic customers, per household type (for example, rental, owner/occupiers, holiday homes, holiday lets, and so on), with a pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meter; the proportion and total classified as ‘hardship’ pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Q1 2023 and in Q2 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36665/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 98 to 107, inclusive, together.
Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. It is a function of the CRU to regulate the electricity market, including the matter referred to in this Parliamentary Question. Therefore the Minister has no statutory function in the matters raised by your query. CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
The CRU Code of Practice on Pay as You Go Metering and Budget Controllers (section 8.1.7) outlines that suppliers must ensure the consent of the customer/named account holder or third party who represents the customer, prior to the installation of the prepayment meter. It is also the supplier’s responsibility to assess the suitability of prepayment meters for a given customer, particularly customers who may be vulnerable or have an impairment which could impact their ability to use the technology. It is recommended that PAYG meters are not suitable for customers eligible to register on the Priority Services Register, most particularly those who are critically dependent on electrically powered equipment.
The CRU Supplier Handbook confirms that suppliers cannot disconnect for reasons of non-payment of account unless they have offered a PAYG meter to the customer. In instances where it would not be appropriate to offer a PAYG meter, such as the customer not being able to use the meter or where there is no suitable location for the meter in the premises, the supplier must offer an alternative.
Currently Bord Gáis Energy, Electric Ireland, Energia, Flogas and SSE Airtricity provide PAYG meters for financial hardship in the electricity and gas domestic markets.
ESB Networks and GNI are responsible for installing PAYG meters free of charge for customers in financial difficulty at the request of suppliers (on foot of a customer agreeing to the installation of a meter).
A number of suppliers also offer lifestyle choice prepayment options in the electricity and gas domestic markets (Bord Gáis Energy, Electric Ireland, Energia, Flogas, Pinergy, PrePay Power and SSE Airtricity). This is provided in the form of a PAYG meter unit that acts as a budget controller in series with the existing meter.
Suppliers offering lifestyle choice prepayment meters charge additional daily service charges. This makes them more expensive than alternatives. Customers considering opting for a lifestyle choice prepayment meter should consider this additional cost and weigh it against the additional benefits that the solution may bring them. It is important to note that customers who are experiencing financial difficulty and avail of a free PAYG meter do not incur any additional charges. For gas, GNI provides all PAYG meters. If a customer wishes to avail of a lifestyle choice meter in gas this is purchased from GNI through their supplier. For electricity, the lifestyle choice prepayment meter is an asset of the supplier rather than ESBN.
