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Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure IE-2022-1/2343 – measures in Ireland

Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme for all Irish households

Country Ireland , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 01 January 2022 – 01 May 2022
Context COVID-19, War in Ukraine
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category N/A
– Support for energy bills
Author Roisin Farelly (IRN Publishing) and Eurofound
Measure added 19 May 2022 (updated 07 July 2023)

Background information

In December 2021 the Government introduced a new Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme. This was introduced against the background of rising energy prices which was contributing to rises in the cost of living.

The Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 was signed into law in March 2022.

Content of measure

The legislation makes “provision, due to the exceptional rise in global energy prices, for the establishment of a scheme to be known as the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme for the purpose of making, on a once-off basis, an electricity costs emergency benefit payment in the year ending 31 December 2022 in respect of domestic electricity accounts”.

Under the Scheme, €200 (inclusive of VAT) will be credited to up to 2.25 million domestic electricity accounts, in recognition of pressures on households due to increases in the cost of living. The scheme applies to all domestic electricity accounts held with suppliers on 29 March. The credit will be applied automatically to all domestic electricity accounts and does not need to be applied for.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has oversight of the Scheme.

Use of measure

Applied to up to 2.25 million domestic electricity accounts.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Does not apply to businesses Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

N/A

Sources

  • 17 December 2021: Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme (www.gov.ie)
  • 04 March 2022: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 (www.oireachtas.ie)
  • 07 March 2022: Minister Ryan welcomes the signing of the legislation needed for the Government’s Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme (www.gov.ie)

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme for all Irish households, measure IE-2022-1/2343 (measures in Ireland), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/IE-2022-1_2343.html

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