asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the reasons voluntary community shelter organisations such as the Simon Community and night shelters are obliged to pay a higher rate for electricity on their houses than hotels or guesthouses: a rate of 5.20 pence per unit, compared to the urban domestic rate of 3.10 pence per unit.
Written Answers. - Community Shelter Organisations.
14.
I am informed by the ESB that the rate applicable to ordinary houses used as night shelters by the Simon Community and other similar voluntary community shelter organisations is the normal domestic rate of 3.1 pence per unit. I also understand that it is accepted practice to charge charitable institutions at the non-domestic rate of 5.2 pence per unit where the number of persons catered for could reasonably be regarded as exceeding the size of a large family.
It recently came to light that a house used as a night shelter by a branch of the Simon Community had been incorrectly categorised as a non-domestic consumer and had been charged at a rate of 5.2 pence per unit. The error was rectified and the amount of the overcharge credited to its account.
I have asked the board to review their policy in relation to the rates of charge applicable to voluntary community shelter organisations.