Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The winter moratorium on disconnections for all domestic customers for non-payment has been extended to three months, from 1 December 2022 to 28 February 2023. Furthermore, the moratorium on disconnections of registered vulnerable customers for non-payment has been extended to six months, from 1 October 2022 until 31 March 2023.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has decided to suspend the €200 gas meter exchange siteworks charge associated with a customer moving from a pay-as-you-go gas meter to a bill-pay credit meter for all domestic customers. That is welcome. The level of emergency credit for people on meters was increased by the CRU from €10 and €20. That is essentially an overdraft. That issue is under review in terms of any potential further increase. However, the Minister has met with the suppliers. He has met with the CRU, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. There is a view that extending the overdraft or putting people further into debt may not be the best way to go. The Minister is having further discussions on that and keeping it under active review.

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