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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

District heating bills

Summary

Deputy Boyd Barrett warned that residents on district and communal heating systems are paying far more than other customers and cannot switch provider. The Tánaiste said he was not clear on the pricing model but would raise the matter with the energy Minister.

While I do not know the exact number - I am not sure whether the Government knows either and if it does not, it should - there are tens of thousands of people on district heating and communal heating systems in multi-unit apartment complexes. They pay three, four and five times the rate of other providers. They have no right to switch to another provider. They are not regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Even people who have not turned on the heat received bills for approximately €400 a month for July and August. I have a set of bills in front of me. They go from 0.8 cent per kilowatt hour to 21 cent, 31 cent, 49 cent and 59 cent per kilowatt hour since January. Even if people do not turn on their heat, they can pay €2, €3 and up to €6 a day in non-usage charges. What will the Government do to get this regulated to control the prices and allow these people to have the possibility of switching?

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

To be honest, I am not sure exactly how pricing works for district heating in Ireland. I know it is commonly used in other European countries but it is not that common in Ireland. As the Deputy has said, tens of thousands of people have district heating systems. I will meet the Minister with responsibility for energy this afternoon. I will make sure he knows Deputy Boyd Barrett has raised it in the Dáil and I will ask him to come back to him with a proper answer.

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