Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2004
48 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the recent presentation from the energy regulator to the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in which he stated that that only 78% of total energy generated is available at any one time and that the performance of ESB stations has been pretty awful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13678/04]
View answerThe Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, as an independent statutory body, is accountable for the performance of its functions to a joint committee of the Oireachtas. I understand that it last appeared before the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on 7 April 2004.
In regard to generation availability, the Deputy will be aware that because of the need to schedule plant out of service for maintenance and the random breakdown of plant from time to time, availability can never be 100%. Even so, the availability of ESB plant has declined in recent years.
The growth in electricity consumption caused by economic success is placing pressure on generating plants. All the older and less reliable plants on the system are ESB owned. A special action programme is now in place to improve ESB plant availability with a target to increase availability from 76% in 2003 to 82% this year.
The CER is also putting in place regulatory elements which will financially incentivise increased availability in the future.
