Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
161. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason and the basis on which the Energy Regulator decided to deregulate ESB energy prices at 60% market share notwithstanding the conventional wisdom that in order for competition to work best in this sector for the benefit of customers no generator should have in excess of a 40% share; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40251/13]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. These powers are granted to the CER under the Electricity Regulation Act of 1999 and subsequent Irish and European legislation. The CER has regulated the tariffs of the incumbent electricity supplier since 2000. With strong growth in competition in recent years, the CER decided to cease regulation of the domestic tariffs of Electric Ireland from April 2011. This followed the deregulation of the business markets on 1 October, 2010. I have no statutory function in the regulation of electricity prices.
