ESB Electric Ireland has launched a household budget price plan which offers customers who may be in arrears a discount of up to 6% when they join the plan.
Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte last week requested the ESB to examine how customers not in receipt of social welfare payments, but genuinely attempting to clear arrears, might also become eligible to apply for the new price plans.
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 ongoing 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%.
However 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. However, all of the discounts are not automatic, customers have to opt in to avail of them.
Mr Rabbitte welcomed the ESB's announcement.
Minister Rabbitte said: 'I welcome the ESB's response to my request to pay particular attention to the needs of customers with genuine payment problems who want to avail of the price cuts.
'Access to the Price Plan reductions will clearly help customers in genuine difficulty.'
The Minister has urged all energy supply companies to continue to work with customers who are experiencing difficulties in the current economic circumstances.
Earlier this month, the ESB was criticised for not allowing 100,000 of their customers who are in arrears, to avail of new discounts.
