Thousands of Irish families owe almost â¬90 million in gas and electricity bill arrears following more than a year of Covid-19 curbs, official figures show.
Regulators will lift a temporary ban on energy suppliers cutting off customers on June 1st, but warn that debts grew during lockdowns which closed businesses and left hundreds of thousands out of work.
Figures from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) show that household gas and electricity bill arrears reached â¬88 million in the first three months of this year.
The total contrasts with the â¬63 million in arrears that households owed to electricity and gas companies at the beginning of 2020, before the virus outbreak prompted the Government to shut down large parts of the economy.
Policy Statement on the Framework for Irelandâs Offshore Electricity Transmission System
Reflecting Irelandâs increased climate and energy ambition, the Programme for Government includes the objective that 5GW of offshore wind generation will be installed by 2030.
As one of a number of workstreams required to meet this objective, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) has developed a new framework and associated policy for Irelandâs future offshore electricity transmission system, which was approved by Government on 14 April 2021.
The framework will provide clarity for all stakeholders regarding the future development, operation and ownership of Irelandâs offshore electricity grid, ahead of the first of three scheduled offshore wind-specific Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) auctions that will enable Ireland to meet the 5GW target by the end of this decade. The framework provides for a phased transitio
Gas and electricity disconnection ban to end in June
Updated / Wednesday, 12 May 2021
11:54
The moratorium has been in place sine March 2020
A moratorium which has been preventing home electricity and gas disconnections will be lifted on 1 June.
The moratorium, which has been in place since March 2020, was designed to add a layer of protection for customers during Covid-19 restrictions.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities said it was lifting the moratorium because of an upward trend in debt levels that may develop into a long-term challenge for customers and suppliers.
It said some customers were staying in debt with their suppliers for longer which stores up the problem to a later date.
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