Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
138. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the ESB has cancelled a further three contracts for gas power plants in Dublin (details supplied); the way and the reason this situation arose; if the issue of below cost tendering has been assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1461/22]
View answer139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the assessment that has been taken of energy constraints for winter 2022 in view of the reports that the ESB has cancelled a further three contracts for gas power plants in Dublin (details supplied); the plans to address these constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1462/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. The capacity market is an integral part of the all-island Single Electricity Market which is overseen by the Single Electricity Market Committee. The Single Electricity Market Committee consists of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, their Northern Ireland counterparts and an independent member.
The termination of the capacity contracts for the three power stations noted by the Deputy occurred in May 2021 with the termination notices published in early June 2021. The termination of these capacity contracts was taken into account in EirGrid's Generation Capacity Statement and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities' programme of actions to address electricity security of supply which were both published in September 2021.
Where market participants or others have concerns in relation to the operation of the electricity market in Ireland, the appropriate body to raise matters with is the Commission for Regulation of Utilities which has processes and procedures to deal with and examine any issues raised. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is independent of me as Minister and my Department. It is solely accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas.
