Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022
145. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an anomaly will be corrected in which two tenants (details supplied) who have separate pre-pay power metres and who have the same MPRN number have been given only €100 each as part of the electricity costs emergency benefit scheme instead of €200, despite the fact that they pay their electricity bills separately. [21518/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 established a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. The credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) is being applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, May, and June and includes prepay meters. This scheme is in addition to the Government’s ongoing measures to address energy poverty and the protection of vulnerable customers, and is in addition to the measures introduced in the Budget.
The scheme applies to all domestic accounts and includes pre-pay customers. The scheme is operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) and electricity suppliers with oversight by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
This is an exceptional measure which uses the single eligibility criterion of a Meter Point Registration Number, to make payments to each domestic electricity account from April 2022. Therefore, it is now being applied automatically to all domestic electricity accounts using the Meter Point Registration Number as the identifier.
Therefore, only one credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) (€200 including VAT) can be allocated per MPRN regardless of how the billing for the premises that MPRN serves might be apportioned. In cases such as this where it appears the premises is served by one MPRN, it would be expected that the credit would be divided.
Where the tenants have a disputes relating to tenancies including any terms relating to electricity payments, these can currently be referred to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for dispute resolution.
Section 78 of the Residential Tenancies Acts prescribes a non-exhaustive list of matters or complaints that can be referred for RTB dispute resolution. I encourage tenants to examine their tenancy agreements and if appropriate, to refer a dispute to the RTB for resolution.
