Electric Ireland says it wants vulnerable customers to register with the company so they can avail of the disconnection moratorium. Image: Alamy Stock Photo Electric Ireland says it wants vulnerable customers to register with the company so they can avail of the disconnection moratorium. Image: Alamy Stock Photo AROUND 125,000 Electric Ireland customers have fallen behind with their energy bill payments, executive director Pat Fenlon told an Oireachtas Committee today.
The company’s hardship fund of €3 million which is there to aid customers struggling to pay bills will be reviewed into the winter, Fenlon said.The hardship fund recently had an additional €3 million added. Social Democrat’s TD Jennifer Whitmore said it should be made clear that a ‘vulnerable customer’ is classed as such for health reasons, rather than those who are financially vulnerable.
Related Reads 04.10.22 Jennifer Whitmore: The lifting of planning rules for solar panels is welcome but long overdue 04.10.22 Food businesses remaining closed early in week to save on energy costs Electric Ireland, the retail division of ESB, is the State’s largest electricity supplier. It has around 1.1 million residential electricity customers and around 170,000 residential gas customers.
“As we operate as a standalone energy supplier in the market, we have no choice but to increase our prices given the quantum of increase in our costs,” he said.