Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I wonder how many people are aware that complaining to the CRU is an option or that the CRU exists. With no offence to the witnesses, they are behind the scenes in a way. Absence of complaints is not a fair marker of absence of a problem. This is a significant issue when I talk with constituents and I would not raise it if I did not think it was.

Ms MacEvilly said that providers must assess people for the suitability for prepay meters and must provide information about the increased costs. Are they also required to provide information on the increased risk of disconnection or losing power that those with prepay meters face? What oversight is there to ensure providers are meeting their obligations? The witnesses said providers tell the CRU that they provide the information. What does the regulator do to ensure they are living up to standards there?

When I look at the prices charged by the prepay meters it just screams that this is some sort of market failure. A forced market segmentation is allowing runaway prices. These customers are very vulnerable and need that protection and empowerment. The customer choice, which from the CRU's perspective is essential to a well-designed market, is just not available to these people. This appears to be a market failure.

What are we doing to step in and correct that market failure? If the CRU does not have the tools to do that, what tools would it need to be able to step in and correct the market failure that is currently leaving prepay customers in a very vulnerable situation?