Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Minister is trying to answer the questions and we are making progress here. The estimated amount that will be raised is €271 million. I presume that includes the 50% who beat the meter. The cost of payments under the €100 grant arrangement is some €130 million, which leaves a net position of €141 million.

Deputy Shortall and I are asking the same question. I have asked people who work with utility companies abroad what the annual cost is per household of metering, billing and customer service. The answer I was given - I cannot stand over it personally, but it is what people who work in utilities have estimated - is that the low end of the cost per household is approximately €60. If that is accurate then, based on a figure of 2 million households, the cost of administration of billing, not including the cost of administration of the grant, would be approximately €120 million. This would leave a net position for the State of €20 million. That is the figure I am asking the Minister to clarify. We know the estimate for the total amount to be raised. We now know the estimated cost - I thank the Minister for that information - of section 5 in terms of the cheques that will be issued. We are down then to €140 million. However, there is potentially some €120 million still to be taken off. Does the Minister have any figures on the cost per household?

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