Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will ensure that persons who live over their business premises where the same electricity connection covers the entire premises, both residential and business, will have their accounts credited through the electricity costs emergency benefit schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5140/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 second Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT). The first payment was made in November/December with the second now in train in the January/February billing cycle and the final payment to be made in March/April. The estimated cost of this scheme for over 2 million domestic electricity accounts is €1.211 billion.

The payment is applied to domestic electricity accounts which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers Distribution Group (DG) 1 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.

With regard to non-domestic electricity accounts outside of the Distribution Groups set out above, Government is acutely aware of the importance of protecting jobs, in order to protect families, during this energy crisis. This has been key in the design of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS), which will provide up to €10,000 per business per month – to help meet rising energy costs. The scheme will support eligible companies, covering 40% of the increase in their energy bills.

I understand that  due to increased expressions of interest on the  TBESS claims portal and help line, Revenue has announced that  claims under the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) for the September 2022 claim period can be made by eligible businesses after the 31 January 2023deadline.

I understand that over 18,700 businesses have registered for TBESS and over 11,200 claims have already been approved. These approved claims have a value of €22.7 million with €18.2 million already paid into business bank accounts. Businesses who have registered for TBESS and who are eligible, are encouraged to make a claim at the earliest opportunity. 

Further information on this scheme can be found at . 

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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67. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way that district energy schemes are regulated; the rationale for not doing so under the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities; and the reason that residential customers are then billed as commercial customers, given that part of the rationale for a just transition is energy and cost efficiency. [4838/23]