Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
144. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is any financial assistance/credits available to be put towards the electricity bills of parents of seriously ill children who depend upon high electric usage medical equipment 24/7 for survival. [7991/24]
View answerAs part of Budget 2024 Government approved a new tranche of Electricity Credits which over 2.2 million households will benefit from - worth €450 in total per household.
Three payments of €150 (including VAT) are being made between December 2023 and April 2024.
The payments are being applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, 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).
In addition, vulnerable customers who are critically dependent on electrically powered equipment, cannot be disconnected for non-payment of account at any time. 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.
Suppliers are also required to ensure that all registered vulnerable customers are on the most economic tariff available for their chosen payment method and billing format.
Under the Solar PV for medically vulnerable Scheme, grant support will be provided to over 3,000 customers on the priority services register to install solar PV systems at their homes, in order to meet some of their electricity requirements.
In relation to the availability of support under the Additional Needs Payment, operated by the Department of Social Protection, this can be provided in any circumstance where the Community Welfare Service Officer is satisfied that the need exists, and that the person concerned cannot meet that need from their own resources. Additional Needs Payments are designed to help people on low incomes who face difficulty in meeting essential costs, including as a consequence of cost-of-living increases. It includes an emergency facility for people who need help quickly to meet costs of essentials such as energy.
