asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether his Department have given any consideration to the increasing preponderance of fuel oil in domestic central heating systems; and whether the ESB have any plans to offer alternative central heating systems based on electricity at keener and more economical prices to the public.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domestic Heating Systems.
11.
The ESB have been actively promoting the use of space heating based on the consumption of off-peak electricity and have captured a substantial share of the market in both existing and new houses. In the case of existing houses, heating installations take the form of storage heaters but in new houses warm air central heating using off-peak electricity is used.
I see no grounds for intervening in the competitive market for central heating particularly since the ESB itself and the suppliers of gas central heating are becoming largely dependent on imported oil.