Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline the engagement that he has had with energy suppliers on the rising cost of electricity and heating for families and the specific measures that they are now taking to assist families who are falling into arrears due to these cost increases; the dates on which such engagements took place; the companies involved; the specific commitments given by the companies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38864/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Commission for Regulation of Utilities(CRU), as the independent regulator was assigned consumer protection functions under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation, has statutory responsibility for the compliance by energy suppliers with their consumer protection obligations.

Suppliers have a critical role in the protection of financially vulnerable customers and customers in debt on their energy bills. In this regard, under Response 6 of the National Energy Security Framework, the CRU are tasked with implementing a package of additional protections for people in such situations ahead of the coming winter.The CRU is currently working very closely with suppliers to enhance existing protections by introducing additional measures to:

- Ensure more manageable payment/debt repayment plans by extending the time for repayment

- Ensure more manageable payment/debt repayment for customers on financial hardship prepayment meters

- Enhance protection for financial hardship prepayment meter customers

- Promote greater awareness and uptake of supplier procedures for dealing with customers in, or at risk of energy debt

- Ensure customers in debt are on a metering/payment plan that is suitable for them

- Ensure suppliers proactively identify customers in debt who should not be on prepayment meters and help them find other options

- Enhance vulnerable customer protections

- Optimise the involvement of NGOs by ensuring all suppliers nominate specific contacts to support customers in debt Improving protection from disconnection for all domestic customers

Government continues to monitor this unprecedented and evolving situation closely to inform ongoing consideration of further action.