Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 92: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of households disconnected by Airtricity in the first two months of this year. [6096/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) collects and periodically issues information on the global number of disconnections by all energy supply companies based on data obtained from ESB networks and Bord Gáis networks, in relation to electricity and gas respectively. The total number of domestic disconnections completed by ESB networks on behalf of all supply companies for non-payment of electricity account was 804 in January 2011 and 753 in February 2011.

I am advised that CER has recently commenced collecting disconnection data directly from electricity and gas suppliers. Publication of this data is a matter for the CER. My Department has no information on specific levels of disconnection on behalf of individual supply companies.

The increase in disconnections in the past 12 months is an issue of considerable concern for the Government, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), voluntary organisations and energy suppliers. CER works to ensure that electricity and gas disconnections because of genuine inability to pay are minimised and only occurs as a very last resort after numerous steps have been taken by a supplier to try to prevent this happening. CER issued updated guidelines for the disconnections code of practice in November 2010.