Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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157. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if persons in private rented accommodation who pay an energy bill separate to others in the same building must have a bill in their own name to be included in the proposed energy grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10277/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022, currently before the Oireachtas, will establish a scheme to make a once off payment, in 2022, to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices.The scheme will be operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks), and electricity suppliers and will be overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

This is an exceptional measure which uses the single eligibility criterion of a meter point registration number, to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible in 2022. The payment will be applied to the domestic electricity account rather than an individual. The scheme will also include pre-pay customers.

I understand that the majority of the 300,000 tenancies registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) would hold their own domestic electricity accounts. In those instances the payment will be directly applied to these accounts. Others would have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each electricity bill and, in those cases, will benefit from the payment because the amount of the bill will be reduced by the amount of the payment. A small proportion would have other arrangements in place whereby electricity costs are part of the rental cost.

With the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage, my Department is working closely with the RTB on a public information campaign to ensure that all tenants are aware of the scheme. Disputes relating to tenancies including terms relating to electricity payments can be brought to the RTB for dispute resolution.

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/.