asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the joint statement of agreed principles and intentions regarding cross-Border electricity supply contains any principle or intention implementing the typical principle enunciated in paragraph 2, page 26 of Electricity in Ireland to the effect that the loading of generating sets is so arranged that those with the cheapest fuel cost per unit of electrical output supply all they can regardless of ownership and the loading of the less economical generating sets is arranged in order of merit so that the most expensive producers take only the peak loads or are used for generating reserve capacity; and, if so, what effect this policy will have on the turf burning stations and on the Arigna power station.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Border Electricity Supply.
4.
The joint statement of principles and intentions, to which the Deputy refers, provides for the drawing up in due course by the ESB and the Northern Ireland Electricity Authorities of a formal agreement governing the operation of the interconnected systems. The essential purpose of the proposed agreement is a sharing of stand-by generating capacity to give improved security of supply with the same installed capacity. The joint statement of principles provides that nothing in it shall be construed or operated in any way by either party which would be against its Government's fuel policy. Accordingly, interconnection will have no effect on operating policy in respect of the turf burning stations or the Arigna power station.