Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
128. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the winter moratorium on disconnections applies to dwellings without planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46156/23]
View answerThe winter moratorium is put in place by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) each year and usually applies from mid-December to mid-January. On 29 September 2023, CRU announced this year's moratoriums on disconnections for all domestic electricity and gas customers for the coming winter period.
The moratorium for customers registered as being particularly vulnerable to winter disconnections will be in place to cover a six-month period from 1 October 2023 until 31 March 2024. Vulnerable customers registered as being critically dependent on electrically powered assistive devices cannot be disconnected for reasons of non-payment at any time and this protection remains in place. It is important that people who are in such situations contact their energy supplier to register with them as a vulnerable customer. Their energy supplier will then notify ESB Networks, which maintains a Vulnerable Customer Register.
The moratorium for domestic customers has also been extended again this year from its usual period and will now be in place from 1 December 2023 until 31 January 2024. This applies to all domestic bill-pay electricity and gas account holders.
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.
