Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
403. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is her intention to notify recipients of the household benefits package of recent changes to this scheme following Budget 2013; if recipients will be notified of the exact changes to the telephone allowance and the electricity/ gas allowance and the treatment of surplus units and credits held by account holders; and the way they will be applied to future utility bills. [5175/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total cost of the electricity and gas allowance in 2013 is estimated at €176 million with 405,000 recipients. The total cost of the telephone allowance in 2013 is estimated at €48 million with 395,000 recipients.
Budget 2013 changed the structure of the electricity and gas allowance which is now aligned to the best average market rate currently available from energy suppliers for 150 units per month. The number of units remains unchanged from 2012. This allowance will now show as a cash credit of €35 on the customer's bill or will be paid as a cash allowance directly to the customer depending on their supplier. Customers who don’t use their full entitlement, will be able to carry forward that unused monetary value. There will be no upper limit on the amount of cash credit carried forward and customers may seek reimbursement, at any time, from their energy supplier for all unused credit that they have accumulated. This will be particularly helpful in enabling customers to switch to a cheaper supplier. Prior to these budgetary changes, credit could not be carried forward and therefore, this acted as an impediment to customers achieving the best value for their particular needs.
Regarding the question of unused units on the customer’s last energy bill for 2012, my Department is currently exploring various options with the main energy suppliers to ensure that customers are dealt with in the most equitable way possible. This issue will be resolved shortly and the energy suppliers will be communicating directly with customers to outline the arrangements in this regard.
The amount of the telephone allowance payable by the Department in respect of each eligible customer is now €9.50 per month. This new monthly rate will show as a credit on the customer's bill or be paid as a cash allowance directly to the customer. Eircom is communicating directly with customers outlining these new arrangements. In response to this change, I am pleased to note that Eircom are also developing a package specifically for vulnerable customers.
In addition, these changes have been advertised as part of the general Budget release and are also detailed on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie. Customers should be encouraged to get the best value possible for their allowances by regularly shopping around utility providers for their own specific needs. The Commission for Energy Regulation website www.energycustomers.ie has information on how to switch electricity and gas suppliers and the Commission for Communications Regulation website www.callcosts.ie has information on how to switch telecommunication and broadband supplier.
