Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022
101. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated administrative costs of administering the €200 electricity account credit to domestic electricity customers under the electricity costs emergency benefit scheme; and the total number of households that received this credit. [26007/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra102. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount that was paid to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities by his Department to administer the electricity costs emergency benefit scheme. [26008/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.
The 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) which suppliers began applying in April, will be applied to remaining domestic electricity accounts through May and June, and includes prepay meters.The scheme is operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) and electricity suppliers with oversight by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
Approximately 2.25 million domestic electricity accounts are benefitting from this scheme.
No specific funding was paid to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities by this Department to administer the scheme.
The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), 1999. The CRU is accountable to the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister.
Under section 9 of the Act, expenses incurred by the distribution system operator and electricity suppliers in relation to the operation and administration of the Scheme shall be borne by the distribution system operator and electricity suppliers, as the case may be.
The Deputy may also wish to note that Frequently Asked Questions are available on gov.ie at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/.
