Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date that the first electricity credit will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48825/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which the €600 energy credits will be funded in 2022 and 2023; the spending programme through which these funds will be transmitted; if there will be supplementary estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49033/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there will be measures this winter to claw-back the energy credit from those with holiday homes and second or third properties; if any consideration has been given to a clawback mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49034/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 72 and 73 together.

Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households and throughout 2022 introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports and as part of Budget 2023 has introduced a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - November/December 2022, January/February 2023 and March/April 2023. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion and will be provided to my Department through a Supplementary Estimate. The payment will be applied to domestic electricity accounts which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2). This includes accounts with pre-pay meters. The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without an application/approval process. This means that it is not possible to omit certain types of residence that fall within these distribution groups. 

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, will transfer monies, provided by the Oireachtas for the purpose of the scheme to ESB Networks,the electricity distribution system operator, upon notification by ESBN of the estimated total number of MPRNs. The scheme will be operated by ESBN by virtue of its existing interface with all electricity suppliers. ESBN will make payments to the individual energy suppliers, who will then credit individual domestic electricity accounts. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), will be charged with oversight of the scheme.