Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Responsibility for the regulation of the gas market, including disconnections, is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is an independent statutory regulator.

In line with the CER's code of practice on disconnection, electricity and gas suppliers must facilitate payment options or plans for domestic customers experiencing genuine hardship and, where appropriate, engage with a money adviser acting on behalf of the customer or a recognised charity. This must include offering the customer a prepayment meter. I understand that as of the end of 2012, over 105,000 pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters have been installed. In addition, disconnections may not be initiated where a customer has entered into a payment plan with the supplier and is honouring that arrangement.

I welcome the fact that CER is working with energy suppliers to ensure that they take all reasonable steps to assist customers through this difficult period and that disconnections resulting from genuine inability to pay are minimised and only occur as a very last resort. Implementation of the measures set out in the Government's affordable energy strategy published last November is pivotal to protecting the interests of vulnerable customers and improving energy affordability.

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In addition, the Government will continue to support the delivery of energy efficiency measures to vulnerable households in 2013. The better energy warmer homes scheme has been allocated Exchequer funding of €20 million for 2013, which is expected to result in upgrades in over 10,000 homes.

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