Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 9, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following:

“Review by electricity supplier

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 simple enough modification to fine-tune an appreciated aspect of the Government Bill concerning the review process. This adjustment bolsters the review procedure, improves consumer safeguarding, and offers greater certainty to consumers. The amendment requires energy providers to promptly respond to review requests within a specific 28-day timeframe as opposed to the vague "as soon as practicable", which can be ambiguous and potentially open to interpretation. Additionally this amendment aims to establish clearer deadlines for submitting complaints to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, thereby enhancing predictability for regular employees and families, and fortifying the conflict resolution process.