Ireland's independent energy and water regulator has announced a boost for vulnerable families this winter as the cost of heating and lighting homes continues to rise.
On Thursday it was confirmed that there will be an extension placed on the moratorium for disconnecting people’s energy supplies if they fail to make payments.
The extension will begin on October 1 and will end on March 31 after previously beginning on November 1.
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Speaking today CRU chairperson Aoife MacEvilly said: “The CRU is acutely aware of the significant challenges that all customers have been and will be facing in the context of increasing energy costs this winter.
“While the current measures provide a high level of protection for all customers, our focus was to enhance protection and security for the customers in greatest difficulty, including vulnerable customers, customers in debt and customers on financial hardship prepayment meters,” she added.
Additionally, all customers who are currently on the financial hardship meter - which is pay-as-you-go - will now be placed on the cheapest tariff available from December 1, while those who are in debt will be given a minimum of two years to repay - but will be given the option to pay back the debt in a shorter period if they prefer.
There is also a reduction in the debt repayment rate for customers on pay-as-you-go meters from 25 percent to a maximum of 10 percent.
There will be no disconnections allowed in relation to all domestic customers from December 1st until February 28th, 2023.
Ms. MacEvilly then confirmed: “These requirements will remain in place for all suppliers subject to future CRU reviews, with the first of these reviews to be undertaken in summer 2023."
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