Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
238. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views that it is appropriate to have an electricity pricing system in which rural customers are paying a 25% higher rate of standing charge for electricity and a 6% higher rate per unit for electricity in comparison to urban customers; if he will seek a review of this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37626/22]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets was assigned to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation.Prices in the electricity retail market have been fully deregulated since April 2011 and in the gas market since 2014. Price setting by electricity suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. An electricity supplier can increase or decrease the rates charged to customers in line with what has been signed up to in the contract. This may include increasing/decreasing the unit rate, the standing charge or any additional charges on bills.
CRU is accountable to the Oireachtas and has a dedicated email address where Oireachtas members can contact the CRU directly for a timely response at oireachtas@cru.
