Call for small businesses to be included in energy suspension scheme

Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that the temporary Supply Suspension Scheme for non-domestic customers impacted by Covid-19 restrictions should be opened up again, saying that small and medium businesses who have been forced to close their doors to help in the fight against COVID should not be getting bills through the door for electricity and gas that they are not using.
 
Teachta Crowe said: “Last year, there was a temporary Supply Suspension Scheme for certain non-domestic customers impacted by the strict COVID-19 restrictions we saw in April and May. This was intended to alleviate the pressures on small businesses by ensuring that qualifying customers would have no energy or network charges billed for their business premises supply point for the duration that the measure is in place. “It is my belief that this scheme should be reopened for small and medium businesses again. We do not know how long we will be forced to follow severe restrictions until we get COVID under control again. We cannot be waiting for the vaccine programme when small and medium businesses are already going to the wall on a daily basis.
 
“I am calling on the Government and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to work with energy providers to help businesses keep their costs down during this latest round of restrictions and lockdown. The end may well be in sight but many small and medium businesses are struggling today and may not come out of the tunnel tomorrow.”