Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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240. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the electricity credit payment of €200 will be issued as a matter of urgency to persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37683/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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) has been applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, 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.

This is an exceptional measure which uses the single eligibility criterion of an electricity meter point registration number (MPRN), to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible this year, without any additional means testing. The payment has been applied to domestic electricity accounts i.e. those which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2), as set out in section 1 of the Act.

Queries in relation to the eligibility of individual cases are, in the first instance, a matter for the service provider.

The Deputy may also wish to note that Frequently Asked Questions, are available ongov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/