Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2022
38. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of energy users who will have submitted gas and electricity meter readings for August and September 2022 and who are concerned that they will be subjected to the 30% plus price increase rates for the remainder of the month and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46694/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment is acutely aware of the impact of high electricity and gas prices, and has introduced a range of measures to mitigate their impact.The most immediate factor affecting electricity prices in Ireland and Europe is high international gas prices where we are a price taker.
Gas prices are now unprecedentedly high, which feeds directly through to retail electricity prices as the wholesale price of electricity correlates strongly with the price of gas.
Government has already put a €2.4 billion package of policies and measures in place to support people and continues to monitor this unprecedented and evolving situation closely to inform ongoing consideration of further action, particularly in the context of the imminent Budget 2023.
As Minister, I meet with a range of stakeholders across the energy sector, where affordability of electricity and gas is a priority issue.
Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets was assigned to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation.
As part of its statutory role, the CRU also has responsibility for consumer protection functions with regard to electricity and gas and as part of its statutory role, the CRU also has consumer protection functions and regularly updates the Electricity and Gas Suppliers' Handbook which sets out obligations on electricity and gas suppliers. The matter outlined by the Deputy is detailed in Section 4 Code of Practice on Billing CRU21111a-Electricity-and-Gas-Suppliers-Handbook-2021.pdf
As part of its consumer protection functions, the CRU has detailed interaction with energy providers on an ongoing basis. On foot of this and Response 6 of the National Energy Security Framework, on 25 August the CRU announced enhanced consumer protection measures to be implemented by electricity and gas providers ahead of the coming winter.
The CRU is accountable directly to the Oireachtas and has a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members: oireachtas@cru.ie.
