Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2016
702. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will ensure that gas and electricity companies will not disconnect customers from services during December 2016 and into the early months of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37387/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the financial challenges faced by families, businesses, charitable and voluntary organisations in dealing with energy costs. However, it is important to note that the electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and that they operate within national and European regulatory regimes.
Responsibility for electricity and gas market regulation is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body.
Existing obligations on suppliers as regards disconnections are included in the CERs Electricity and Natural Gas Supplier Handbook, which includes a Code of Practice on Disconnections, under which suppliers are required to offer customers assistance in managing their account and treat disconnections as a last resort.
A number of measures have been taken in recent years to assist consumers deal with energy costs. The CER procured Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Meters to help those in difficulty with energy bills to better manage their usage and reduce the risk of disconnection. The rollout of PAYG meters has contributed to a fall in the number of disconnections and limited the accumulation of arrears. The Department continues to work with the CER and the energy industry to ensure that there are no impediments to their continued availability to customers who are at risk of energy poverty.
Bord Gáis Energy, Electric Ireland, Energia, Flogas Natural Gas and SSE Airtricity have adopted a voluntary code of practice, the 'Energy Engage Code' committing them never to disconnect an engaging customer, to avoid disconnections in the winter period, and to work with their customers on realistic and achievable payment plans for any arrears.
CER has also issued a disconnection moratorium request to all suppliers and the network companies for all domestic customers for the Christmas period. The moratorium runs from 16th December 2016 to 6th January 2017. Essentially, network companies cannot process requests for disconnection for non-payment of account during this period.
The Code supplements existing obligations on suppliers as set out in the CERs Electricity and Natural Gas Supplier Handbook. The impact of the Code on the level of disconnections is being continuously monitored by the CER.
