Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 October 2021
6. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has the power to order data centres to turn to auxiliary power if the demand on the grid could cause potential blackouts. [48724/21]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has statutory responsibility to monitor and take measures necessary to ensure the security of electricity supply in Ireland. The CRU is assisted in its statutory role by EirGrid, the electricity transmission system operator. The CRU is an independent statutory body and solely accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions. The implementation of demand reduction measures in the event of insufficient generation being available to meet demand is an operational matter for the transmission system operator, EirGrid and the distribution system operator, ESB Networks in consultation with the CRU.
