Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 10:

In page 9, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “6. (1) Where an electricity supplier refuses to make an electricity costs emergency benefit payment then the final customer may request the electricity supplier, on or before 30

June 2024 to review its refusal.

(2) The request under subsection (1) shall state the reasons why the person making the request wishes the refusal by the electricity supplier to be reviewed.

(3) The electricity supplier shall within 28 days of the request under subsection (1), take into account the reasons stated in the review request and shall—

(a) affirm the refusal to make the electricity costs emergency benefit payment, or

(b) on being satisfied that the final customer is or is eligible to be registered as a vulnerable customer or is the holder of a hardship meter account, make the electricity costs emergency benefit payment.

(4) An electricity supplier shall inform the final customer who made the request under subsection (1) of the electricity supplier’s decision under subsection (3) in writing within 28 days of the request for review.

(5) Where the electricity supplier makes a decision referred to in subsection (3)(a) it shall when informing the final customer concerned under subsection (4)—

(a) state the reasons for the refusal, and

(b) specify the period (being not less than 60 days from the date on which the final customer concerned is informed of the decision under subsection (4)) within which an objection, under section 9R(1)(e) of the Act of 1999, may be made to the Commission.

(6) Where, following a review under this section, an electricity supplier determines that an electricity costs emergency benefit payment will not be applied to a domestic electricity account, the final customer may make an objection, under section 9R(1)(e) of the Act of 1999, to the Commission.”

This is a straightforward amendment which tweaks a welcome measure within the Government's Bill regarding the review mechanism. This amendment makes the review procedure more robust, enhances consumer protection and provides more certainty to customers. The amendment mandates energy supplies to respond to a request for a review within a specified timeframe of 28 days, rather than the "as soon as is practicable" on which there may be a question mark and technically could mean anything. The amendment also seeks to provide more definitive timelines for raising complaints to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, subsequent to the supplier enhancing predictability for ordinary workers and families and it strengthens the disputes resolution mechanism.

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