Vol. 539 No. 1
116 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the degree to which she has given directions arising from information brought to her attention regarding the adequacy of power supplies to the national grid; if recent developments have impacted in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18985/01]
124 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the policy initiatives she has taken to ensure the availability of sufficient power to meet industrial and domestic electricity needs; if she has devolved policy in this area to another agency or body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18993/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 124 together.
I have not given any direction, nor do I have the power to do so, to ESB national grid, in relation to the adequacy of power supplies to the national grid. Under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 sponsored by me, the Commission for Electricity Regulation is required to have regard to the need to ensure that all reasonable demands for electricity by final customers are satisfied and promote the continuity, security and quality of supplies of electricity. The CER has recently informed my Department of measures which are being taken to ensure security of supply for winter 2001 to 2002. The CER is satisfied there will be adequate capacity to meet the needs of electricity customers given the availability of short-term generation for the coming winter period. The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely.
In May 2001, ESB national grid published the Generation Adequacy Statement 2001-2007 in accordance with section 38 of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999. I am pleased to note that in the medium term the commissioning of large-scale generation plant projected for 2002 will lead to a significant improvement in the generation adequacy position. In the longer term, assuming a properly functioning market with adequate investor incentives, national grid has stated that there is no reason generation adequacy should not be maintained within standard from 2003 onwards.
