Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
73. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the discussions with the key energy sector stakeholders which have taken place to date to reduce the very high current cost of energy utilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10388/22]
View answerThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), 1999. The CRU is an independent statutory regulator and is accountable for the performance of its functions, including more generally on the matter raised in this question, to the Oireachtas, and not to me as Minister. I understand that the CRU appeared before Committee on Environment and Climate Action as recently as the 15th February to answer questions on these matters.More broadly, and in view of the current pressures faced by households following the exceptional rise in international energy prices I introduced The Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022, that now provides for a payment, on a once off basis in 2022, to each domestic electricity account amounting to €200 (including VAT). This payment is part of a suite of policy measures announced by Government designed to give additional support households at this time. The operation of the payment is facilitated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) and electricity suppliers under the oversight of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
