Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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59. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way that the electricity credit will be paid to persons with prepay meters. [10243/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The aim of the Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 is to establish a scheme to make a once off payment, in 2022, of an Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. An increase in the benefit to €200 including VAT was included in the suite of measures announced by Government on 10th February designed to further support households.  I

The scheme will apply to all domestic accounts, including pay as you go / prepay customers. The mechanism by which pay as you go customers will receive the credit is the subject of ongoing operational preparations between the CRU, which will oversee the Scheme, ESB Networks and suppliers.

The CRU has indicated that this would happen by way of the credit being applied towards the account of the pay as you go customer, who would then receive the credit when they go to vend for credit.

The Deputy may also wish to note that regular information updates, including frequently asked questions, are being made available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/.