Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Act 2023

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Functions of electricity suppliers in relation to No. III Scheme

5. (1) For the purposes of the operation and administration of the No. III Scheme, an electricity supplier shall—

(a) receive monies transferred to it by the distribution system operator under section 4 (1)(f),

(b) use monies received by it under paragraph (a) for the sole purpose of making electricity costs emergency benefit payments to domestic electricity accounts that are not, subject to paragraph (c) and section 6 , low usage electricity accounts,

(c) notwithstanding that a domestic electricity account is a low usage electricity account, subject to section 6 , make an electricity costs emergency benefit payment where the holder of the account is or is eligible to be a registered vulnerable customer or holds a hardship meter account,

(d) keep records of—

(i) all monies received in accordance with paragraph (a),

(ii) all electricity costs emergency benefit payments made by it in respect of accounts that are not low usage electricity accounts, and

(iii) in respect of low usage electricity accounts, all electricity costs emergency benefit payments made by it under paragraph (c) and section 6 ,

(e) as soon as practicable, repay to the distribution system operator any monies received by it in accordance with paragraph (a) that have not been used for the purpose of making electricity costs emergency benefit payments and keep records of any such repayments,

(f) perform such other functions as the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, for the purposes of the efficient operation and administration of the No. III Scheme, prescribe, and

(g) make available to an auditor appointed by the Minister all books and records in relation to the performance by the electricity supplier of the functions conferred on it by or under this Act.

(2) Where an electricity supplier receives monies in accordance with subsection (1)(a), it shall, within such period ending not later than 31 December 2024 as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, prescribes for the purposes of this subsection in respect of each payment period, credit each eligible domestic electricity account held with it on the effective date in respect of the payment period concerned, with a payment of €137.61 (in this Act referred to as an “electricity costs emergency benefit payment”).

(3) An electricity supplier shall, for the purpose of the No. III Scheme, put in place such administrative and operational arrangements that the Commission considers necessary or expedient under section 9R(1)(a) of the Act of 1999.