asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, in expansion of the Bord na Móna accounts for 1977-78 (and the ESB accounts for that year), the average fuel cost of generating electricity per unit prior to transmission in 1977-78 from (a) sod peat, (b) milled peat, (c) coal, (d) oil, (e) hydro, and having regard to the deliveries of Bord na Móna peat to the ESB power stations, the average number of units generated by a tonne of (i) milled peat, (ii) sod peat and the average price paid per tonne in each case.
Written Answers. - Electricity Generation Costs.
187.
The information requested by the Deputy, based on data published by the ESB and by Bord na Móna, is as follows:
I. Average fuel cost per unit of generating electricity as indicated in the ESB accounts: (a) sod peat, 1.028p; (b) milled peat, 0.772p; (c) coal, 1.875p; (d) oil, 1.232p; (e) hydro, nil.
Note: The figures shown are based upon the costs at all stations in each category, exclusive of the four small sod peat-fired stations at Miltown-Malbay, Screeb, Cahirciveen and Gweedore which are not normally fuelled by Bord na Móna.
II. Average price paid per tonne, as indicated in the Bord na Móna accounts of: (i) milled peat, £4.130; (ii) sod peat, £8.590.
III. Based on the above published data the approximate number of units generated per tonne is as follows: (i) milled peat, 534 units; (ii) sod peat, 835 units.
It should be made clear that in addition to fuel costs there are costs for operation and maintenance of plant and equipment, for labour costs, for overheads, for capital costs and so on. These additional costs can vary for the different types of fuel used.