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Fuel Poverty

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

Ceisteanna (65)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

65. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of families experiencing fuel debt; and the estimated number of families facing or experiencing fuel poverty. [11533/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty, published in 2016, sets out a number of actions to alleviate the burden of energy poverty on the most vulnerable in society.  Research undertaken by the ESRI shows that the proportion of households in or at risk of energy poverty has reduced from 28% in 2015 to 17.5% in 2020.  Research also shows that the proportion of people who report that they are unable to afford to keep the home adequately warm, has fallen from 9% in 2015 to 4.9% in 2019. Responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CRU has a wide range of customer protection functions which are implemented via the various Codes of Practice set out in CRU’s Supplier Handbook. CRU compiles information on customers in arrears. At end 2020, 12% of domestic electricity customers and 16% of domestic gas customers were in arrears for one billing period or more regardless of the value of the arrears. This was equivalent to 236,289 electricity customers and 110,681 gas customers in arrears. This information is available publicly at this link: https://www.cru.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CRU2106-Arrears-and-NPA-Disconnections-December-2020-Update.pdf

Protections are in place for those falling into difficulty with their energy bills. Under the supplier led voluntary Energy Engage Code, suppliers will not disconnect a customer who is engaging with them. Suppliers must also provide every opportunity to customers to avoid disconnection and must identify customers at risk of disconnection and encourage them to engage with them as early as possible. Suppliers are also obliged to offer a range of payment options, such as a debt-repayment plan for a customer in arrears. Where possible, suppliers must also offer customers with difficulties paying their bills a prepayment meter or budget controller.  In addition, there is currently a moratorium on all disconnections of domestic customers. This took effect on 8 January, 2021 and will remain in place for the duration of current Level 5 restrictions.

Customers can find further information on the customer protection measures on www.cru.ie or by calling their Customer Care Team on 1890 404 404.  

Income supports including the Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits Package are available from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to help households with the costs of heating their homes. The Minister for Social Protection provides a Fuel Allowance payment, of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks, which is a total of €784 each year, from October to April, to an average of 372,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. In addition, the Minister for Social Protection also provides an electricity or gas allowance under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €265 million in 2021. This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year. In addition DSP also funds an exceptional needs payment, which can include support with fuel bills in some cases.

Improving the energy efficiency of a home can also help to protect households from energy poverty. This year, €221.5 million in capital funding has been allocated to SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes.  Of this amount, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households.

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