The ESB, now trading a ESB Electric Ireland, has announced that customers in arrears will be able to avail of discounts of up to 6% if they join the company's household budget plan. This commits them to making an mutually agreed regular payment to clear their accounts.
The scheme is already available to social welfare recipients in arrears, who have to pay a minimum of €15 a week.
Existing customers in arrears and not in receipt of social welfare, who avail of the plan, will be expected to make payments depending on the amount of their arrears, their energy consumption and also their individual financial circumstances. Customers in arrears who have a budget control meter can also avail of discounts of up to 6%.
But those in arrears are not being offered the same level of discounts as those who are paying their bills on time. Existing customers in 'good standing' can avail of discounts up to 14% for electricity if they pay by direct debit and sign up to online billing.
Customers who pay on time and who sign up to an electricity and gas package can receive discounts of up to 17% on their electricity rates. All of the discounts are not automatic, as customers have to opt in to avail of them.
The ESB said the move follows a request from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte to examine how ESB customers in arrears and not in receipt of social welfare could avail of new price plans.
Earlier this month the ESB was criticised for not allowing 100,000 of their customers who are in arrears to avail of new discounts. Minister Rabbitte has welcomed the ESB move.
