Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----or households can contact their existing service providers today to find out what are their charges and discover if they will be affected by the new arrangements. The new system will commence in the autumn after the Department has implemented the regulatory changes. The phase-out will be over 12 months. In the meantime, families will be able to see the existing charging options and what news ones are to be offered over the summer. A family will only have to make a decision when their existing flat rate contract expires between autumn 2017 and autumn 2018. There is plenty of time for people to get in contact, examine the options and go for the most efficient and effective one for themselves. By their own behaviour they can impact the charges that will be before them.

See this speech in context