Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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180. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which persons can apply for the universal, one-off electricity credit of €100 per household; if the application is sent to the individuals or to the electricity company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62449/21]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if households that pay their electricity bill on a pay-as-you-go system will be included in the rebate of €100 to be given for electricity charges to each household in the State; the method by which they will receive the rebate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62593/21]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the procedure to be followed to ensure that persons who own a second home for their personal use do not receive the rebate of €100 to be given for electricity charges to each household in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62594/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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194. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way persons who use pay-as-you-go electricity services will be able to avail of the announced €100 electricity credit. [62811/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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195. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if tenants whose rental payments include the costs of electricity bills benefit from the announced €100 electricity credit. [62812/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 184, 185, 194 and 195 together.

The Government agreed on 14 December to provide a once off payment of €100 to every domestic electricity account holder through their electricity supplier in 2022 as part of a range of measures to help mitigate the impact of rising electricity costs.

The scheme will become operational in quarter 1 2022 following the passage of the requisite legislation through the Oireachtas. Around 2.1 million homes will benefit from the scheme for a one-off, exceptional credit payment to their electricity accounts. The payment will be automatic and will applied directly to the bills of each domestic electricity account holder by their electricity supplier. People will not need to apply for the payment.

The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will be charged with oversight of the scheme. The scheme will be operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) by virtue of its existing interface with all electricity suppliers. ESB Networks will make payments to energy suppliers who in turn will credit all their domestic electricity account holders in the amount of €100. The scheme will apply to all domestic accounts, including prepay meters. Further details of the Scheme including FAQ’s will be available on my Department’s website shortly.

The position of successive Governments has been that competitive energy markets result in greater choice for consumers, in terms of suppliers, products and prices. Data from approved price comparison sites shows that consumers can make significant savings by switching or engaging with energy suppliers. Many households could save on their bills if they did so. As recently as the 9th December, switching supplier could save a customer, consuming the average amount of electricity, up to €313.