Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. These proposed amended sections 6(3) and (4) seek to include a limit of 28 days for a supplier to consider a review request and 28 days to respond in writing to review requests. While I recognise the merit of this amendment, this could cause unintended consequences for electricity suppliers and consumers. Setting a limit of 28 days for a supplier review and response could prove difficult to implement and adhere to if issues arose. I note that with previous schemes there was a large increase in call volumes to energy supplier call centres in relation to the operation and roll out of the credit. This caused problems such as increased wait times for customers and is not something I wish to add to during the winter months. By permitting the review to be carried out as soon as is practical after receiving the request, this provides the flexibility required for dealing with requests.

It is proposed to reject these amendments and in relation to the proposed section 6(5)(b), the Deputy proposes to provide an extended 60 day for a review decision to be referred to the CRU. The Bill has provided 28 days for this referral. The scheme will end on 31 August 2025. Suppliers will return unallocated funds to ESB Networks, which will in turn forward these moneys back to my Department and then the Exchequer. It is preferable that these moneys are returned to the Exchequer as soon as practicable. My experience of the scheme in the last year is that the process of engaging with suppliers for a person who did not get their energy credit worked very well. A very small number of people who contacted their supplier had to appeal to the CRU. This was fewer than 100 people out of more than two million electricity customers. None of the customers that I dealt with did not get their money in the end. The CRU has taken a very compassionate and sympathetic approach to this. I do not believe that extending the time is going to help or solve any underlying problem. For those reasons I am not willing to accept the amendment.