asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he has instituted an examination of the accounting procedures of the ESB; and if such a review has to date brought about a reduction in the price of electricity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Accounting Procedures.
17.
A report on the accounting procedures of the ESB is at present under examination in my Department. I expect that this examination will be concluded soon.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary state when this report was (a) commissioned and (b) received?
In March. 1977, the consultancy unit attached to the National Prices Commission prepared a report on the accounting procedures of the ESB. That report was submitted to the Minister at that time by the NPC and is at present under consideration in the Department.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say when a decision is likely to be taken in relation to this matter?
At this point in time I could not.
Is there any indication that the report will lead to a reduction in the price of electricity, as clearly foreshadowed by your Minister?
The Deputy is probably referring to a recent reduction of 2 to 3 per cent in electricity prices which arose out of a reduction in the fuel surcharge by the ESB arising from a fall in fuel prices and not from any alteration in the accounting procedures. The most recent ESB price increase was approved in March this year and it is expected no further electricity price increase application will be made by the ESB before the spring of 1978 at the earliest.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the very firm assurances given by Deputy O'Malley before he became Minister that his examination of the accounting procedures of the ESB would result quite categorically in a reduction in the price of electricity, a statement a great many people accepted at the time?
That is a separate question.