Given the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, your bills for April will most likely have been based on an ESBN or GNI estimate of your consumption, as opposed to an actual meter reading.
To avoid the problems with this approach during these extraordinary times, businesses will have no energy or network charges billed for their business premises supply point from the date they are included in the Scheme and for such time as the Scheme remains in place.
Yes, the eligibility requirements for the Scheme do not require you to have zero consumption. To account for any residual consumption and to avoid a cumulative bill for this consumption at the end of the Scheme, we encourage customers to submit a monthly meter read. If you submit a meter read during the Scheme, the energy charges in your monthly bill will reflect the low level of consumption recorded.
Yes, this Scheme only commences on 1st May.
We understand the demands COVID-19 is placing on your business and we are here to assist you with finding a solution. If you are experiencing difficulties, please contact our Commercial Credit Control team for assistance [email protected].
It is necessary that the relevant electricity and/or gas account holder applies to participate in the Scheme.
To assist you with understanding your bills during the time you are registered for the COVID-19 Supply Suspension Scheme, it is important to note the following features of the Scheme.
- Customers can only receive the benefit of the Scheme from the date they are included in in the Scheme by ESBN/GNI. This is a requirement set by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
What does this mean: If you were included in the Scheme in mid-May, you will only receive the benefits of the Scheme from that date (i.e zero consumption) but the first part of the month will include an ESBN/GNI estimate of your consumption over those days.
- The network companies (ESBN/GNI) have resumed meter reading and customers remain liable for all recorded consumption at the site. It is a requirement of the Scheme, as set by the CRU, that businesses remain closed for the duration of the relevant public health advice.
What does this mean: If an actual meter reading records consumption at your site during the Scheme, this will be included and charged in your bill. If there is significant consumption at the site, you should review your eligibility for the Scheme.
- The Scheme provides customers with relief from network standing charges and, where appropriate, capacity charges. As customers’ start and end dates for the Scheme will differ, Energia will apply a one-off credit to customers’ bills in the month immediately after the Scheme ends or the customer leaves the Scheme whichever is sooner.
What does this mean: You will continue to be charged a standing charge and capacity charge (if applicable) on your bill. The standing charge on your bill incorporates a number of charges not included in the Scheme, as well as the network standing charge. At the end of your participation in the Scheme, a full reconciliation of the eligible reliefs – network standing charges and capacity charges (if applicable) – will be undertaken and a credit covering the full duration of your participation in the Scheme will be applied to your bill.
We understand this continues to be a difficult time for you and your business, and our Commercial Credit Control team –
[email protected] – remains available to assist you with payment difficulties you may be experiencing.