Under S.I 450 of 2010, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has been granted a new statutory function in relation to monitoring and reporting on electricity retail markets, including disconnections. The CER has advised that it has not been able to provide the detailed breakdown of information requested by the Deputy in the timeframe for responding to this Parliamentary Question. I have therefore requested that the CER provide these figures directly to the Deputy, once they are available.
In the interim, the CER has provided the information set out below in relation to the total number of disconnections completed by ESB Networks on site for Non-Payment of Account:
Year
|
No. of Disconnections
|
2006
|
5,538
|
2007
|
10,921
|
2008
|
10,986
|
2009
|
9,709
|
2010 — to October 2010
|
16,492
|
The increased rate of disconnections is a concern for the Government, the CER and energy suppliers. The key message for customers is to contact their suppliers to make arrangements before it gets to the point of disconnection. All energy suppliers have a Code of Practice in place setting out the steps to be taken before initiating a disconnection. These Codes of Practice require the suppliers to engage with the customer and /or a third party such as Money Advise and Budgeting Service (MABS) or St. Vincent De Paul on pre-payment plans and /or alternative methods of payment (prepayment meters/budget controllers).
Prior to disconnections the suppliers must give a minimum of seven days notice, to the customer of its intention to request a disconnection to be carried out by the network operators and the associated costs. A supplier may not request the disconnection of a customer who has entered into a payment plan and is honouring that arrangement. There are also protections in the current code for vulnerable customers, for example, to prohibit electricity suppliers disconnecting elderly customers in the winter months.
The CER has recently published a review of the regulated policy on disconnection (for non-payment of account), in the context of improved customer protection. CER also provides a dedicated Energy Customers website and Energy Customer Team which provides consumer information on the electricity and gas market at www.energycustomers.ie/
Some 380,000 domestic customers are recipients of either the free electricity allowance (340,000 households) or the free gas allowance (40,000 households) under the Department for Social Protection — Household Benefits package. The free electricity allowance pays the standing charge and 2,400 free units of electricity per year, minimising or eliminating bills for these consumers. The Minister for Social Protection has recently announced that this scheme will also cover the cost of the PSO Levy. An additional 340,000 customers also receive Fuel Allowance payments (currently €20 per week) to help with home heating costs for 32 weeks from Sept. to end of April. Therefore, over 20% of domestic electricity customers in Ireland are in receipt of some form of direct financial support for their energy costs through the Department for Social Protection, even taking into account the fact that there is some overlap between these schemes (i.e. 142,000 people receive both the Household Benefits package and the fuel allowance payments). Local Community Welfare Officers can also provide exceptional needs payments which can include support for energy bills and also heating supplement if the applicant meets certain criteria.
The Government through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has committed to funding to a number of schemes available to consumers and businesses to enable them reduce their electricity bills by increasing their energy efficiency. For example, the Warmer Home Scheme (WHS) was established to address the poor thermal efficiency performance of low-income housing. The scheme provides attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, and energy efficient light, cavity wall insulation and energy advice at no cost to eligible households. The scheme is targeted at households who are in receipt of the Fuel Allowance Scheme and Disability Allowance.