Minister Ryan secures government approval for new Energy Poverty Action Plan

• €10 million fund to further support people at risk of energy debt
• additional €248 million injection to the Warmer Homes Scheme to retrofit low-income homes and address root cause of energy poverty

The government has today approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan, which provides for the establishment of a €10 million fund to further support people in, or at risk of, energy poverty this winter and into 2023.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications will work with suppliers, relevant public bodies and NGOs to provide financial support to citizens experiencing difficulties meeting their energy costs this winter, including Pay As You Go gas and electricity customers. The new fund will be available to bolster hardship funds (which most suppliers have in place). People are advised to engage with their suppliers directly or contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), St Vincent de Paul or ALONE, who can advocate on their behalf to suppliers.

In addition, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications will extend the definition of 'vulnerable customers' to include people who are financially vulnerable, to ensure they can avail of additional consumer protections. This will include those in receipt of Fuel Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance for over six months, Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Carers Allowance.

The Energy Poverty Action Plan also sets out the actions the government has already put in place to tackle energy poverty and help people to pay their energy bills as part of the wider cost of living crisis. These measures include:

• the three €200 energy credits, totalling €1.2 billion in supports, which will be made to all domestic electricity customers by the end of April 2023
• the additional lump sum Fuel Allowance Payment of €400, bringing the total allowance for winter 2022/2023 to €1,324
• strengthened consumer-protection measures mandated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), including an extension of the annual moratorium on disconnections

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan said:

The Energy Poverty Action Plan also includes a number of medium- and long-term initiatives to help understand and address the complexities of energy poverty more:

1. An injection of €248 million in additional funding for the Warmer Homes Scheme up to 2027 (from the European Regional Development Fund) to retrofit more lower-income homes as a solution to a root cause of energy poverty.

2. More in-depth research to better measure and respond to energy poverty in Ireland, led by the ESRI and involving the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications; the Department of Social Protection; the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The specific details of the fund will be agreed between the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

ENDS

Additional supports for people at risk of energy poverty

Energy customers in need of additional supports this winter can:

1. engage with their supplier to discuss the range of supports available

2. apply for an Additional Needs Payment provided by the Department of Social Protection. This payment is also available to customers on a Pay As You Go meter. Every effort will be made to ensure that vulnerable individuals in financial distress, and who qualify, receive an Additional Needs Payment on the same day or as soon as possible, where it relates to electricity and heating expenses

3. seek financial advice and advocacy support from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)

Extending the definition of vulnerable customers

The existing definition of vulnerable customers will be extended to include people who are financially vulnerable, that is, those in receipt of Fuel Allowance, Jobseekers' Allowance for over six months, Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Carers Allowance. At present, the definition of a vulnerable customer is limited to those in the following two categories:

• Category A: A household customer who is critically dependent on electrically-powered equipment, which includes, but is not limited to, life protecting devices, assistive technologies to support independent living and medical equipment or
• Category B: A household consumer who is particularly vulnerable to disconnection during the winter months for reasons of advanced age or physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health

The extension of the definition of a vulnerable customer will see the establishment of a third category of financially-vulnerable customers to cover the winter periods of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.

Customer protection from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)

As part of its strengthening of consumer protections, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is running a communications campaign encouraging people, where appropriate, to register as a vulnerable customer with their supplier.

The moratorium periods, during which bill-pay electricity and gas customers cannot be disconnected, are as follows:

• Category A: Vulnerable customers cannot be disconnected at any time
• Category B: Vulnerable customers cannot be disconnected for non-payment of account between 1 October and 31 March
• all bill-pay customers are protected from disconnection between 1 December and 28 February. This has been extended by two months, compared to the previous provision

All suppliers are required to put vulnerable customers on the most economic tariff.

Reduce Your Use/Stay Warm and Well campaign

The Reduce Your Use/Stay Warm and Well campaign is a government initiative to provide practical information to households on how they can reduce their energy use over the winter period, and how they can access financial supports.

The government is asking people to stay warm and well this winter and to know that help is available if they need it over the coming weeks and months.

Where safe and possible, people are being asked to reduce energy wastage. Using less energy will help homes and businesses to save money.

Key partners involved in the campaign are the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, MABS, ALONE and the SEAI.

Further information on help and supports over the coming winter period can be found on the Reduce Your Use homepage.