Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As part of Budget 2024, Government approved a new tranche of Electricity Credits, which over 2.2 million households will benefit from, totalling €450 per household.

The scheme is to be operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks), and electricity suppliers and overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Based on the number of domestic electricity accounts, ESBN will make payments to the individual energy suppliers who will then credit each domestic electricity account held with them. The scheme also includes pre-pay customers.

The type of coin operated meters referred to by the Deputy are not installed by ESBN and are not regulated by the CRU. Such devices are usually installed behind the electricity meter, and their use for payment of electricity is a contractual matter between residents and their landlords. However, I have asked my officials to investigate this matter further with both ESBN and the CRU in order to ascertain the extent of the issue outlined and report to me on the details of same.

If the landlord holds a domestic electricity account, the credit will be paid to that account. While the majority of tenants will hold their own domestic electricity accounts, and therefore receive the payments directly, others would have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each 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.

Where a dispute arises between a tenant and landlord regarding the passing on of the payment, the resolution mechanisms of the RTB are available, however, tenants will be encouraged to resolve the matter with their landlord in the first instance.