Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will liaise with the appropriate authorities to ensure customers using pay-as-you-go electricity meters will receive a €200 top-up for their meters when the credit is added to their account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9173/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 will establish a scheme to make a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account this year, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. This Bill is currently before the Oireachtas, with a view to the scheme becoming operational by the end of Quarter 1. This scheme is in addition to the Government’s ongoing measures to address energy poverty and protect vulnerable customers. It is also in addition to the measures introduced in the Budget.  

The scheme will apply to all domestic electricity accounts and will include pre-pay customers.

The scheme will be overseen by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and operated by ESB Networks (ESBN) as the Distribution System Operator. The mechanism by which pay as you go customers will receive the credit is the subject of ongoing operational preparations underway between the CRU, ESBN and suppliers. The CRU has indicated that it is expected that this would happen by way of the credit being applied towards the account of the pay as you go customer, who would then receive the credit when they go to vend for credit. My Department is engaging closely with the CRU on this matter, and will continue to do so.The Deputy may also wish to note that regular information updates, including frequently asked questions, are being made available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/.